Napoli fans wear masks in support of racially abused defender, Koulibaly

Supporters for Italian side Napoli on Saturday showed solidarity with their Senegalese international Kalidou Koulibaly who was recently racially abused by wearing masks and carrying posters as their team played.

Napoli beat

Bologna 3-2 in the Italian Serie A but the highlight of the day was the home

side’s fans who wore masks and placards with the face of the 27- year old

Senegalese born in France who missed the game after being sent off the pitch in

the side’s 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in midweek.

The

fans carried posters with the message' siamo tutti Koulibaly' - which translates

to 'we are all Koulibaly' at the Stadio San Paolo as Napoli beat Sampdoria.

Koulibaly's

team-mate Faouzi Ghoulam showed his support through Twitter prior to the game,

posting a picture of himself wearing the mask, along with the message: "It

does not matter the colour of skin. It does not matter religion. It does not

matter which team you cheer for.

"Football,

like all sports, is a game. And all the games are passion. Fun, freedom and in

freedom we are all the same. Tomorrow we will all be Koulibaly!"

The Senegalese defender was

in midweek subjected to monkey chants by Inter Milan fans as his team lost 1-0

in a game where Koulibaly was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for

sarcastically applauding the referee.

The Italian

Football Federation,(FIGC) on Thursday announced Inter Milan would have to play

two Serie A games behind closed doors following the incidents at the San Siro

stadium.