Boateng invited to anti-racism event

MILAN (AP)

STANDING FIRM

Watch as Kevin-Prince Boateng led Milan off the pitch after being racially abused in January.

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has been invited by the United Nations to attend its International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Boateng led his teammates off the pitch this month in protest at racial abuse by opposing fans during a friendly match against fourth-tier Italian club Pro Patria.

The U.N. event, which takes place in Geneva on March 21, has been running since 1966 and this year's focus is on racism in sport.

Milan announced the news on Wednesday. "The event will take place at the National Building in Geneva and will concentrate on racism in sport," Milan said on its website.

Earlier in the week, a football judge  decided not to punish AC Milan for walking off the field after Boateng and other Milan players were subjected to racist chants during a friendly with fourth-division club Pro Patria.

While noting that no rule allows a squad to interrupt a match without the referee's or the public security officer's consent, Serie A judge Gianpaolo Tosel wrote that ''the essential values of sport and civil coexistence'' rule out the possibility that ''a gesture of solidarity toward someone insulted exclusively for the color of his skin'' can result in disciplinary action.

Pro Patria was already ordered to play one home match without fans for the Jan. 3 incident, and a preliminary judge barred six of the club's supporters accused of inciting racism from all sports events in Italy for five years.