During a recent AC Milan match on Saturday, goalkeeper Mike Maignan took a bold stand against racial abuse from Udinese fans. The Serie A game was briefly suspended in the first half as Maignan walked off the field in response to the mistreatment.
Mike Maignan on tonight's events. We are with you, @mmseize.#UdineseMilan #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/bs8yQjpsF9
— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 20, 2024
FIFA president Gianni Infantino
In the aftermath of this incident, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed a significant measure to combat racism in football. He suggests that teams whose fans engage in racist abuse should face an automatic forfeit of the game. This move comes as part of Infantino’s commitment to taking stronger action against racial discrimination in the sport.
Despite the interruption, the match resumed, and AC Milan ultimately secured a 3-2 victory. However, Maignan later revealed to DAZN that he had endured monkey noises from the opposing fans.
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In a powerful statement, Maignan emphasized that such incidents go beyond the player being attacked; it affects the individual as a man and a father. The goalkeeper expressed that this was not the first time he had experienced such abuse, highlighting the need for decisive action against racism in football.
Notably, Kasey Palmer of Coventry also shared his experiences of mistreatment at Hillsborough, shedding light on the widespread nature of the issue.
FIFA president Infantino reiterated the importance of imposing harsher penalties for racist incidents. He suggested implementing an automatic forfeit for teams whose fans are responsible for racism-induced match abandonment. Additionally, he called for global stadium bans and criminal charges against those involved in racist acts.
🚨🚨| NEW: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called for teams to be forced to automatically forfeit a match if their supporters commit acts of racism and cause abandonments.
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) January 21, 2024
[@TheAthleticFC] pic.twitter.com/IQiln5aHSi
Serie A responded by declaring its condemnation of all forms of racism, with French forward Kylian Mbappe echoing the sentiment, stating, “Enough is enough.”
AC Milan and their city rivals Inter stood in solidarity with Maignan, denouncing the racist abuse he faced. Former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright praised the unity within the Milan team and advocated for more severe punishments. He encouraged teams to “keep walking off” the field in response to insults, emphasizing the collective responsibility to combat racism in football.
As the football community grapples with this incident, it becomes imperative to address racism through concrete measures. FIFA’s proposal for an automatic forfeit serves as a step towards fostering an inclusive and respectful environment within the sport.
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