AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan & teammates WALK OFF in protest amid fan ‘racial’ abuse in Serie A clash vs Udinese

Mbappe voiced his support for Maignan!

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan & teammates WALK OFF in protest amid fan ‘racial’ abuse in Serie A clash vs Udinese

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan walked off the pitch in protest of racial abuse from Udinese fans. (Image via BBC)

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and his teammates walked out of the pitch in response to racial abuse directed at the goalkeeper by the Udinese home fans in a Serie A match. The protest led to a halt in the match in the 33rd minute, and it resumed ten minutes later.

Football often sees racial incidents, harming the game’s spirit due to fan actions. AC Milan’s Mike Maignan faced racial abuse from Udinese fans at BlueEnergy Stadium, and it’s not the first time. In March 2022, he and teammate Fikayo Tomori were targeted by Cagliari supporters during a Milan win.

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At the half-hour mark, the French goalkeeper informed the referee about the racist chants before deciding to leave the pitch. He was followed by his teammates, who walked out as well. The incident took place shortly after midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek had given the visitors a 1-0 lead. The match restarted about 10 minutes later, and Milan eventually won the match 3-2.

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Maignan conveyed his frustration to the media, emphasizing that playing under such conditions is unacceptable. The Frenchman revealed that he heard monkey noises during the first goal-kick but ignored it. He once again heard the offensive sounds, following which he alerted the referee.

The 28-year-old called for strong sanctions against Udinese fans, highlighting that such actions cross the line. AC Milan shared an anti-racism message on social media, while league leaders Inter Milan extended their support.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemns racism in response to Mike Maignan’s incident

FIFA President Gianni Infantino released a strong statement against acts of racism. This followed suit after the 28-year-old AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was racially abused by Udinese fans in the Serie A.

Infantino statement on racial abuse
Giani Infantino released a statement condemning racial abuse. (Image via Sky Sports and The Guardian)

Following pressure from some football clubs and players on FIFA to take strong measures to tackle racism in football, Infantino released a comprehensive statement in support of the demand. He stressed a zero-tolerance policy for racism and discrimination in both football, expressing full support for the affected players.

Moreover, Infantino urged for collective action, starting with awareness initiatives to convey that such behavior has no place in football or society. He proposed an automatic forfeit for teams whose fans indulge in racism, along with worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for offenders.

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