AC Milan’s Mike Maignan Speaks Out Against Racist Abuse and Calls for Stronger Sanctions
Mike Maignan, the goalkeeper for AC Milan, has spoken out about the racist abuse he experienced during the team’s victory over Udinese on Saturday. Maignan walked off the pitch after being subjected to monkey noises and racist chants from the home fans. He is now calling for stronger sanctions from the Italian football authorities to combat racism in the sport.
AC Milan Secures Victory Despite Racist Incident
Despite the incident, AC Milan managed to secure a 3-2 victory over Udinese thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Noah Okafor. The win came after being behind in the match until the 83rd minute. However, the result of the match was overshadowed by the racist abuse faced by Maignan.
Maignan Reports Racist Abuse and Halts the Match
In the middle of the first half, Maignan informed referee Fabio Maresca and the fourth official about the racist abuse he was receiving from the home fans. Following protocol, a statement was read out over the stadium’s speakers warning that the match would be suspended if the behavior continued. When the monkey chants persisted, Maignan alerted the referee again, leading to a temporary halt in the match.
Expressing his frustration and anger, Maignan stormed off the pitch and returned to the dressing room. His teammates and some Udinese players had to calm him down, while others approached the fans and urged them to stop the chanting. After a five-minute break, the match resumed.
Maignan Calls for Action Against Racism
Although the match continued, Maignan expressed his disappointment and emphasized that more must be done to combat racism in Italian football. He acknowledged that it was a small minority of Udinese fans involved in the racist abuse but stressed that stronger measures need to be taken to address the problem.
When asked about his decision to walk off the pitch, Maignan explained that he heard monkey noises during the first half and reported it to the referee and officials. He emphasized that playing football under such circumstances is unacceptable and that it was not the first time he had experienced such abuse. Maignan called for a strong stance against this behavior.
Support from Teammates and Determination to Win
Maignan received support from his teammates after walking off the pitch. He described the team as a strong family and expressed gratitude for their support. Despite the incident, the team returned to the pitch with a determination to win, believing that the best response to racism is victory.