The Italian Football League imposed, on Tuesday, a financial penalty of 10 thousand euros (11,460 US dollars) on Juventus, due to the behavior of some of its fans who did not observe, on Sunday, a minute of silence in honor of the Italian football legend Sandro Mazzola.
The Italian Football Federation announced in a statement: «Juventus was fined 10 thousand euros, after a few of its fans in the southern stand, on the first floor, showed clear disrespect for the minute of silence decided by the Italian Football Federation».
The Federation explained that the penalty «was reduced» due to «the quick official stance taken by the club regarding this unfortunate behavior, as well as the disavowal of the rest of the fans present in the stadium».
Juventus was threatened with a fine of up to 50 thousand euros (50,292 dollars)or even playing a match without fans.
Before the start of all matches of the fifth stage of the Italian League, last weekend, players and fans observed a minute of silence in honor of Mazzola, the former Inter Milan and Italian national team star who died on Saturday at the age of 83 years.
Before the start of Juventus' match against Atalanta at the «Allianz Stadium»stadium, a part of the «Old Lady» fans turned their backs to the field and chanted during the minute of silence dedicated to honoring Mazzola, who spent his entire football career with Inter Milan, the traditional rival against whom Juventus fans have a historic enmity.
Before the end of the match, Juventus issued a statement expressing its condemnation of the behavior of these fans.
The most decorated club in Italian football history wrote: «No competition can justify disrespect during a minute of silence. Honoring the memory of the departed and uniting in their remembrance during moments of tribute is a shared responsibility that transcends affiliations and colors».
Several former Juventus stars also condemned the fans' behavior, including former Italian international Marco Tardelli, who described what happened as «one of the darkest moments».
