The Serie A match between Juventus and Inter Milan on Saturday will be stopped for 10 minutes if there is racist chanting, Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete said Monday.
"I am approaching the match as a sporting contest, but if this doesn't come about there are those with the responsibility and instruments to intervene," Abete told ANSA news agency.
Soccer fights racism
"In our football and our country there is the need to restore the focus to what happens on the field. It is necessary to focus on the technical side, because it a clash between two great sides," Abete added. "We are aware of what could happen on the field and we hope people's behavior will help make it a fantastic event."
Abete said that the referee and the police can take a joint decision if there is abuse, and Italian player's union president Sergio Campana said that team captains should be able ask the referee to halt proceedings.
"It wouldn't be bad if the two captains approach the referee about suspending the match," Campana said on Italian radio. "The players are well within their rights not to put up with this wrongdoing."
Last season, Juventus was ordered to play one game in an empty stadium after fans abused Inter striker Mario Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian descent.
The Turin-based club has already received a fine this season after fans sang racially offensive songs about the striker in recent weeks.
Italian football is currently rife with racism. Over the weekend, Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko was reported to have been on the end of abuse from Cagliari fans during his team's 2-0 loss.
"Of course it would be difficult to suspend a game," Campana said. "But if we want to overcome this evil we shouldn't be afraid of taking it on."
