Lazio president apologises for fans' racial abuse

Lazio president Claudio Lotito apologised to his club's opponents Messina after their African defender Zoro was subject to racial abuse during a Serie A match on Sunday. Zoro was booed throughout the game by a section of Lazio supporters and the Ivory...

Lazio president Claudio Lotito apologised to his club's opponents Messina after their African defender Zoro was subject to racial abuse during a Serie A match on Sunday.

Zoro was booed throughout the game by a section of Lazio supporters and the Ivory Coast defender was reported to be furious at the end of the match which Lazio won 1-0.

"I had to push him into the dressing room because he was very upset and could have reacted in a way that would have wound things up even more," Zoro's team-mate Salvatore Aronica told Italian news agency ANSA.

Messina president Pietro Franza said that Lazio counterpart Lotito had entered the dressing room after the game to apologise to Zoro in the name of the club.

Lazio have been sanctioned on several occasions by the Italian Football Federation and European governing body UEFA after racist chants or banners from their fans.

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