Serie A roundup: Sampdoria’s Ronaldo Vieira racially abused by Roma fans
Sampdoria’s midfielder Ronaldo Vieira was subjected to racist abuse from Roma fans during a 0-0 draw in Serie A on Sunday.
The Italian news network ANSA reported that the 21-year-old was targeted with monkey chants by travelling supporters at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. “I heard it but I don’t want to talk about it. This happens too often, it shouldn’t be this way,” Vieira told Rai Sport.
The chants were heard coming from the away end, occupied by around 2000 Roma fans, during the first half. The abuse continued and was also noted by the fourth official Antonio Giua.
Corriere dello Sport reported that an announcement was made on the stadium Tannoy warning fans that the match would be suspended if the chants continued.
Vieira was born in Guinea-Bissau but has represented England at youth level, having moved to the country at a young age. He joined Sampdoria from Leeds in 2018. Last month, Roma banned a fan for life for sending racist insults to the defender Juan Jesus on social media.
There have already been several incidents of racism in Serie A this season. The Internazionale striker Romelu Lukaku received abuse from Cagliari fans in September and a game was briefly suspended after the Fiorentina defender Dalbert said he had been racially abused by Atalanta supporters.
Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez, meanwhile, scored two goals each as Inter survived a late fightback to beat Sassuolo 4-3. Martínez struck inside two minutes before Domenico Berardi equalised, but Lukaku gave Inter breathing space with a powerful strike and a penalty before half-time.
Martínez stretched his side’s lead to 4-1 from the penalty spot after the interval, but Sassuolo hit back through Filip Djuricic and Jérémie Boga.
Antonio Conte’s side held on in a nervy finish to the game as the home side pressed for what would have been a remarkable equaliser. “We did everything right in the first half and should have scored more in the second,” Lukaku told the streaming service DAZN. “Once it goes to 3-1 and 4-1, it ought to be over. The positive we take is that we got the three points, but we need to defend better than that.”
The result leaves Inter in second place on 21 points, one behind the champions Juventus and four clear of Atalanta in third.
A stunning stoppage-time equaliser from Lecce’s Marco Calderoni denied Stefano Pioli a win on his debut as AC Milan coach when his side were held to a 2-2 home draw in Serie A on Sunday.
Hakan Calhanoglu smashed in the opening goal during an impressive first half from the hosts but Lecce drew level after the break through Khouma Babacar. Substitute Krzysztof Piatek restored Milan’s lead with nine minutes remaining but Calderoni’s long-range piledriver in the 92nd minute levelled the scores.
Sevilla striker Luuk de Jong scored his first goal for the club to give them a deserved 1-0 win at home to Levante in La Liga to go level on points with fourth-placed Real Sociedad. Sociedad came from behind after an early strike from Loren Moron to beat Real Betis 3-1 earlier in the day thanks to an own goal from Javi Garcia and further strikes from Willian José and Portu.