Union backing Muntari

THE HAGUE - World soccer players' union FIFPro urged Italian soccer powers on Tuesday to quash Sully Muntari's yellow card for leaving the pitch last weekend after fans hurled racial abuse at the Ghanaian player.

The former AC Milan and Inter midfielder dramatically left the field on Sunday while playing for Pescara at Cagliari after he angrily confronted home fans, claiming to have been racially abused before being booked.

While leaving the pitch in frustration and murmuring "Basta! (Enough!)", Muntari went to address more supporters, showing them his arm and shouting, "This is my color, this is my color!"

Muntari, 32, could now face disciplinary measures after deciding to leave the field seconds before fulltime - a decision that earned him a second yellow card, and then a red, from referee Daniele Minelli.

"FIFPro believes Muntari's yellow card should be rescinded," the Dutch-based union said in a statement from its Amsterdam headquarters.

"Muntari was well within his rights to approach referee Daniele Minelli, as the first point of reference, to make his grievances known and seek a solution."

Agence France - Presse