French anti-racist body files complaint over Juve chants

PARIS (Reuters) - A French anti-racist body said on Friday it would file a legal complaint after racist chanting by Juventus fans at a Champions League match at Girondins Bordeaux.

Juve fans chanted "A black can't be Italian" at Wednesday's game, won 2-0 by Bordeaux, with Inter Milan's Palermo-born striker Mario Balotelli in mind, the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) said in a statement.

"These insults having been uttered on French territory, LICRA encourages (French) authorities to open an inquiry and seek the most severe sanctions against their perpetrators," the statement read.

"LICRA will file a legal complaint," the statement added.

Juve were forced to play a game behind closed doors last season after fans sang "a black Italian does not exist" towards Balotelli.

The club were then fined by the Italian league after supporters chanted "jump up and down and Balotelli will die" at Sunday's 1-0 home win over Udinese.

UEFA could investigate the chants in Bordeaux but because they happened before the game started they might not be included in the referee's report and hence the likelihood of any sanction would be reduced.