Italian football has once again been shamed by an incident of racist abuse towards black players, as Roma’s 0-0 draw with Milan was temporarily suspended due to racist chanting from the Roma fans.

Milan manager Massimo Allegri heavily criticised the incident after the game, saying Italian football stadiums have become “a place for the uncivilised” and proclaiming that “the culture in Italy is backward.” Allegri was also critical of the idea that suspending play for several minutes has any effect on the will of racists to continue their abuse. “"Stopping the game doesn't work, it's a happy medium and like all happy mediums, it doesn't do anybody any good,” he said.

"People should go to the stadium to see two teams battling each other on the pitch, not this sort of thing, it's a place for the uncivilised," he said.

"Above all, the culture in Italy is backward – tonight we had racism, laser beams flashed in the eyes of players and an interrupted match."

Roma’s captain, Francesco Totti, first complained to the referee before the game was stopped. He then went to speak with the Roma fans in the hope of stopping the abuse.

The game was suspended for approximately two minutes before the referee resumed play. A 0-0 stalemate was livened up by two red cards, one for Milan’s Sulley Muntari- reprimanded for physically preventing the referee showing Balotelli a card, and Francesco Totti who was dismissed in the final moments of the game for elbowing.

In January a Milan friendly was halted midway through the first half due to racist abuse. The Milan midfilder Kevin Prince Boateng led a walk off from the game, following racist abuse directed at him from the supporters of Pro Patria.