Napoli supporters rallied Thursday to back "warrior" Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly after he became the latest black footballer to be taunted with monkey chants in Italy's Serie A.

While Lazio were left facing sanctions over the actions of their fans on Wednesday night -- that forced a three minute halt to the game -- Napoli supporters rushed to the club's Castelvolturno training ground to hang a banner saying: "Be proud of your colour Koulibaly. You're a true warrior."

Koulibaly also get support from Lazio striker Keita Balde, also a Senegalese international, who posted a Twitter tribute: "This game is so much more than black and white. So much admiration for you my friend!"

Italy was left however to agonise over racism which has made its football league notorious in Europe.

After the 2-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico, through Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon goals, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri praised referee Massimiliano Irrati for stopping the game for three minutes in the second half because of the chants by a small section of Lazio fans.

Sarri called the chants "embarrassing" but Lazio coach Stefano Pioli did not agree.

"Obviously, these chants are not good, people need to be civil and show respect," said Pioli.

"But I don't think they were racist in nature, even we have black players. I'm not trying to excuse what happened, but we're giving too much importance to a minority."

The incident was not isolated however, in sport and Italian political life.

Carlo Tavecchio, president of the Italian football federation (FIGC), is a case in point.

In July 2014 Tavecchio, then president of Italy's amateur leagues, sparked outrage with comments comparing England and Italy's recruitment of black players.

"Here... let's say there's (fictional player) Opti Poba, who has come here, who previously was eating bananas and now is a first-team player for Lazio - In England he has to demonstrate his CV and his pedigree," said Tavecchio.

The comments earned Tavecchio a six-month ban from European football's governing body UEFA. He was however still elected to the most powerful position in Italian football.

In 2013, FIFA congratulated AC Milan forward Kevin-Prince Boateng after he walked off the pitch during a friendly with lower league side Pro Patria after he and other black players were targeted by repeated monkey chants.

Yet world football's governing body has little power when it comes to changing the culture of a country.

Arrigo Sacchi is a legend throughout the sport after leading AC Milan to back-to-back European titles in 1989 and 1990.

His remains a respected pundit on Serie A, despite comments last year when he said there were "too many black players" at a famous youth tournament in Viareggio.

"Italy has no dignity, no pride. It can't be possible for our teams should have 15 foreign players in the squad," said Sacchi.

Yet Sacchi's remarks pale in comparison to those aimed at Congo-born Cécile Kyenge after she was named minister of integration -- Italy's first black government minister -- in April 2014.

Senate member Roberto Calderoli said she reminded him of an orangutan.

Calderoli is a former minister for Silvio Berlusconi, the two-time prime minister and owner of seven-time European champions AC Milan who himself once joked that US President Barack Obama had a sun tan.

Italy's racism problem is not just in football and the victims try to forget by turning the other cheek.

On Wednesday, Koulibaly responded by gifting his Napoli shirt to a young Lazio fan at the end of the game, later posting a message on his Instagram account.

"I want to thank everyone for their positive messages I've been sent, including the players of Lazio but above all the referee Irrati for having the courage to take action."