Italian club Sassuolo fined $40,000 for racially abusing player despite contrary police report

REGGIO EMILIA, Italy – The Italian soccer club Sassuolo has been fined $40,000 for racially abusing an AC Milan player despite a police report stating otherwise.

The fine by the Italian league was announced Thursday for "racially discriminatory chants" aimed at Kevin Constant during an exhibition game last month.

Constant, who is black, was also fined the same amount for kicking the ball into the stands and walking off the field after hearing what he called racist chants from a section of Sassuolo fans as he was taking a throw-in.

Police officers nearby say the fans were encouraging" Constant not to waste time over a throw-in, and were shouting phrases such as: "Come on, move it!" ... "Get a move on you sausage!"... "Get a nose job!"