In a shocking turn of events, AC Milan’s Serie A clash with Udinese was temporarily suspended as goalkeeper Mike Maignan reported racist chanting from home fans at Stadio Friuli. The incident unfolded just after the half-hour mark, prompting Maignan to leave the pitch, with his teammates rallying behind him.
Maignan, the French shot-stopper, took a courageous stand against racism, alleging that he was subjected to offensive chants from Udinese’s supporters. The Milan players, in a show of solidarity, gathered around Maignan as the game came to a brief halt. After a delay of approximately five minutes, play resumed with Milan leading 1-0, courtesy of Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s goal in the 31st minute. However, Udinese managed to level the score with Lazar Samardzic finding the net just 11 minutes after the game resumed.
The incident raises concerns about racism in Italian football, echoing previous cases involving players like Victor Osimhen, Kalidou Koulibaly, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Romelu Lukaku. Notably, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) implemented stringent anti-racism rules in 2023, aligning them with UEFA sanctions, which include an automatic 10-match ban and the closure of sections of the stadium.
