Genoa players stripped off their shirts in a gesture of apology to angry, flare-throwing fans Sunday as their protests forced a 45-minute delay during the team's 4-1 loss to Siena in Serie A.
Genoa is in danger of being relegated, and the gesture was an apparent way for the players to acknowledge they were not worthy of wearing the club's shirt.
The unusual scene came as protests broke out among Genoa supporters early in the second half as their team trailed 4-0.
Fans threw flares onto the field and climbed atop barriers as they were faced by stewards in riot gear at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, forcing families with small children to flee.
Genoa forward Bosko Jankovic was compelled to leave his seat on the bench after an argument with fans.
Genoa captain Marco Rossi spoke with the fans at one point and then removed his jersey before gathering some of his teammates' shirts in an attempt to appease the supporters.
That seemed to work as the fans eventually calmed down -- while Siena and the referee went into the locker room -- and the match resumed in the 54th minute without incident.
"This violence is unacceptable," Italian soccer federation President Giancarlo Abete said. "These are not fans. I hope these people are found and condemned. They shouldn't ever be allowed to enter stadiums again."
Genoa president Enrico Preziosi said "it's upsetting that 60 or 100 people have the impunity to do and say what they feel like without being stopped and sent home."
"It's not possible that they take over the stadium and impose their laws," he said.
The scene was reminiscent of the Italy-Serbia match at the same stadium in October 2010, which was stopped by violent clashes between Serbia fans and police.
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