Rudiger demands 'justice' over racism in Italy

Still feeling the scars of racist abuse from his final months in Italy, new Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger said he wants authorities to tackle Serie A's scourge.

The 24-year-old defender was targeted by fans in the stands and Lazio's Senad Lulic during a trying season with Roma.

Despite joining the Blues earlier this month for an initial €35 million, Rudiger hasn't run away from the problem.

"I just want justice. I want FIFA or the FA in Italy just to suspend those people who do that," Rudiger said, courtesy of John Percy from The Telegraph. "Those people need to be banned from the stadium or fined. You cannot even put yourself in my position of how that feels."

Other black footballers who've played in Italy - most notably Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari and former AC Milan man Kevin-Prince Boateng - have dealt with the same issue. Muntari and Boateng both walked off the pitch in response to separate cases of racist chanting.

In 2013, Boateng attracted praise and criticism for the way he handled himself. Although the supporters who abused the former Ghanaian international received jail sentences, none lasted longer than two months.

Earlier this year, Muntari required the help of FIFPro, the international players' union, to overturn a one-match suspension he received for protesting racist chanting.

Rudiger, whom Lulic provoked by comparing the German to a street merchant, said there is no right or wrong way to respond to racism.

"I can keep my focus, but people love to say, 'Stay calm,' or, 'Don't do anything.' It is easy for you to say those things when you are not black and you never feel what it is like. You have to be strong. But each human is different. Someone takes it and doesn't react. Others react. I can understand both."