Napoli players, fans support Koulibaly after racist chants

Napoli supporters held aloft posters and banners in support of defender Kalidou Koulibaly in their first match since he was allegedly racially abused.

Senegal international Koulibaly missed the 3-2 victory over Bologna as a result of the red card he was shown during Thursday’s game at Inter Milan.

Fans at the San Paolo carried posters which read ‘Siamo tutti Koulibaly’ – ‘We are all Koulibaly’.

Inter supporters, meanwhile, were barred from Saturday’s match at Empoli.

After a meeting between the club and its security group, Empoli announced ticket sales to away fans had been “suspended” and further information would be given to those who had already purchased one.

Inter won the match 1-0, with Koulibaly’s Senegal team-mate Keita Balde scoring the winning goal in the second half.

Luciano Spalletti’s Inter must play their next two home games at the San Siro behind closed doors.

In Naples, Dries Mertens scored a late winner and Arkadiusz Milik netted twice for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to stay nine points behind unbeaten leaders Juventus, who beat Sampdoria 2-1.

‘In freedom we are all alike’

The day before Napoli’s game at Bologna, Faouzi Ghoulam wrote a tweet in support of team-mate Koulibaly, which read:

“It doesn’t matter the colour of the skin.

“It doesn’t matter religion.

“It doesn’t matter what team you’re rooting for. Football, like all sports, is a game. And all the games are passion, fun, freedom

“And in freedom we are all alike.

“Tomorrow we will all be Koulibaly!” BBC Sport.