Italian public security officials will be given the power to stop or interrupt soccer matches in the case of racist behavior by fans, the government's watchdog for sports events, ONMS, said on Wednesday.

The ONMS said in a statement that in cases of racism the referee should alert the fourth official who should in turn report the incident to the public security department responsible for policing at games.

"The director of the public order service has the sole responsibility for suspending the match," said the statement following a meeting with officials from the Italian soccer federation.