Inter Milan fined 25,000 euros for fans' racism

MILAN, Apr 4 (Reuters) Inter Milan have been fined 25,000 euros (,470) after their fans targeted Messina's African defender Marc Zoro with racist abuse during Saturday's Serie A match.

Ivory Coast-born Zoro, who threatened to walk off the field after suffering taunts from Inter Milan fans earlier this season, was the target of whistles and jeers again when the two teams met in Milan on Saturday.

Inter's hardcore ultras also displayed a racist banner at the game which Inter won 3-0.

The Italian Football League's disciplinary commission said on Tuesday the scale of their punishment reflected the fact that a large number of Inter fans vocally objected to the racism.

Zoro's treatment by Inter fans in the game at Messina on November 27 prompted a nationwide debate on racism in Italian soccer and led to a day of anti-racist demonstrations at stadiums across the country.

REUTERS SBJ HT2208