Italian players to protest racist fans

ROME— Soccer players in Italy will display banners at midfield before games this week to protest the racist behaviour by some fans. The Italian soccer federation decided on the action yesterday after Messina defender Marc Andre Zoro of the Ivory Coast was insulted and booed by groups of Inter Milan fans Sunday. Zoro threatened to leave the game but Inter players Adriano and Obafemi Martins persuaded him to finish.

“ It’s time to stop it, to end racism in stadiums,” Zoro said on Italian television Sunday.