Napoli players, fans support Koulibaly after racist chants

By: The Associated Press Posted: 12:02 PM CST Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018 Last Modified: 1:17 PM CST Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018

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NAPLES, Italy - Napoli fans and players showed their support for defender Kalidou Koulibaly in Saturday's 3-2 victory against visiting Bologna in Serie A after he was subjected to racist chants this week.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/12/2018 (2835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NAPLES, Italy – Napoli fans and players showed their support for defender Kalidou Koulibaly in Saturday’s 3-2 victory against visiting Bologna in Serie A after he was subjected to racist chants this week.

With Koulibaly suspended, Napoli fullback Faouzi Ghoulam warmed up wearing the Senegal international’s No. 26 shirt.

Fans held up photos of Koulibaly and anti-racism banners with the hashtag label #SiamotuttiKalidou, which translates as “We’re all Kalidou.”

In this image taken on Wednesday, Dec.26, Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, right, leaves the pitch after receiving a red card from the referee 2018 during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Napoli, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. At left is Inter Milan's Kwadwo Asamoah. Cristiano Ronaldo has come to the defense of Kalidou Koulibaly after the Napoli defender was the target of racist chants during a match at Inter Milan. Next to a photo of him being marked by Koulibaly during a match earlier this season, Ronaldo writes on Instagram, "In the world and in football there always needs to be education and respect. No to racism and to any sort of insult and discrimination!!!". (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Koulibaly had monkey noises directed at him throughout a match against Inter Milan on Wednesday at the San Siro Stadium. He was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession late in the match, the second for sarcastically applauding the referee after being shown the first.

Koulibaly was then suspended for two matches — one for the red card and one for applauding the referee.

After the Inter game, Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti threatened to lead his team off the field the next time one of his players is subjected to continued racist abuse.

Napoli beat Bologna thanks to a late winner from Dries Mertens.