May 13 – Italian authorities have taken swift action against Atalanta by fining the club €40,000 after a banana was thrown on to the pitch during Sunday’s 2-1 home win against AC Milan though many will question whether the fine is enough.
Serie A’s disciplinary tribunal also ordered that the club’s Curva Nord stand be closed for one game but suspended the sanction for a year. A statement said the penalty will only be implemented if a similar offence is committed during that period.
The banana landed near Milan’s Guinean international Kevin Constant who picked it up, showed it to the referee and then handed it to team mate Nigel de Jong, who threw it off the field. Milan players then sarcastically applauded the section of the Atalanta fans where the banana was thrown from.
Atalanta said in a statement on their website that club president Antonio Percassi had telephoned Milan’s chief executive Adriano Galliani to personally apologise.
Last week Spain’s Villarreal were fined €12,000 by their national federation after a similar incident when a banana was hurled towards Barcelona’s Dani Alves during a La Liga match in April. The supporter in question was banned for life.
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