Rome - A sports judge Monday sentenced Serie A side Juventus to play a home game behind closed doors because of the racist slurs and chants that their fans aimed at Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli, Italian media reported.

Balotelli, 18, is an Italian footballer born in Palermo to a Ghanaian family. He was adopted at the age of 3 by an Italian family.

On Saturday, he was repeatedly booed by large sections of Turin's Stadio Olimpico as Inter drew 1-1 after taking the lead through a goal from the striker.

Juve are to play their next home game against struggling Lecce on May 3. They lie joint-second with AC Milan 10 points adrift of leading Inter with six games left. (dpa)