UEFA to hear Inter racism case on April 19

GENEVA (AFP) –

Tottenham Hotspur‘s Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor (C) celebrates after scoring during the European Cup football match between Inter Milan and Tottenham, on March 14, 2013 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. UEFA on Monday said it had launched a disciplinary procedure against Inter Milan after racist chants by fans, with the hearing scheduled on April 19.

UEFA on Monday said it had launched a disciplinary procedure against Inter Milan after racist chants by fans during their Europa League match against Tottenham, with the hearing scheduled on April 19.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas had called on European football’s governing body to take action after charging that Emmanuel Adebayor, who is from Togo, was subjected to racist abuse during their second-leg match with Inter in the last 16 round of the tournament.

Adebayor scored the crucial goal that cemented the London club’s claim to a berth in the Europa League quarter finals at the Italians’ expense.

Inter are also under investigation for missile-throwing by fans and other organisational failings during the match last Thursday.

Three weeks ago, during the city derby with bitter rivals AC Milan, a group of hardline Inter supporters from the club’s “Curva Nord” end brandished inflatable bananas and made monkey noises, until they were drowned out by whistling by other fans.

Inter were fined 50,000 euros by Italian league authorities as a result.