AC Milan and Gennaro Gattuso Fined for Chants Against Former Inter Boss Leonardo

AC Milan and veteran midfielder Gennaro Gattuso have each been fined by the Disciplinary Committee of the FIGC for chants that targeted former AC Milan player and manager and former Inter Milan manager Leonardo.

The club and fans alike have felt resentment towards Leonardo since about midway through the 2010-11 season.

After five seasons as a Milan player, the Brazilian became a director and scout for the club and, with the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, became manager for the 2009-10 season.

Following a third place finish in Serie A and a Last-16 exit in the Champions League, Leonardo left through mutual consent with the club.

No one expected what happened next.

After 13 years as a player and staff member with Milan, Leonardo replaced Rafa Benitez as the manager of Inter Milan, the hated rivals who share the Guiseppe Meazza with AC Milan.

Resentment grew. It shocked Milanista everywhere.

Even the legend Paolo Maldini, who retired the season before Leonardo's takeover of Milan, said he would never betray Milan and join Inter like Leonardo did.

Leonardo kept Inter in the hunt as they tried to win their sixth straight title, but the Rossoneri held them off to win the Serie A for the first time in seven years.

The celebration occurred in Rome following Milan's Round-37 draw with Roma that clinched the Scudetto.

During this celebration, Gennaro Gattuso joined the Milan Ultras, who made the trip south in celebration of the title. Milan's loud and rambunctious followers began an anti-Leonardo chant. While some Milan players may have felt that way about Leonardo, Gattuso, always a feisty and outspoken player, decided to join in the catchy tune.

Two months after the incident, on the same day that Milan began training for the 2011-12 season at the Milanello, the FIGC issued a fine of 13,333.33 euros to both the club and the 33-year-old midfielder.

This seems like a strange number, completely random and not even a rounded out total.

No matter what, the punishment fits the crime, or at least half of it. Gattuso deserved his fine.