Juventus condemn fans who turned backs during Mazzola tribute

Juventus have condemned a group of their own supporters who turned their backs on the pitch during the minute's silence for Sandro Mazzola before Sunday's 2-0 win over Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium.

The group in the Curva Sud faced away from the field and sang songs in memory of Juventus legends. The rest of the ground drowned them out with applause. Mazzola, the Italy and Inter great, died on Saturday aged 83, and a minute's silence was held before all Serie A matches this weekend.

The club issued a statement afterwards. "No rivalry can justify a lack of respect during a minute's silence," it read. "Honouring the memory of those being remembered and coming together in remembrance during moments of commemoration is a shared responsibility that transcends allegiances and colours."

Corriere dello Sport reports that the incident was flagged by inspectors of the FIGC federal prosecutor's office and will go before the sports judge. A fine for the club is considered likely.

The former tennis player Adriano Panatta, speaking on the Rai programme "La Domenica Sportiva", called for banning orders. "Shame. It is such an ugly thing. This group of fans made me ashamed to be Italian," he said. "This gesture goes beyond any bad taste, bad manners, lack of culture. In my view they should step in with a Daspo. Is it worse to hurl some insults at a brother of ours, a black player, or this thing? The people responsible can be identified. But I would not give a Daspo for a month, but for life."

If the judge proceeds, the case may test how Italian football sanctions the conduct of a section of supporters when the club itself has publicly distanced itself from it.