You think we’re racist? The insults against the AC Milan goalkeeper have affected everyone, and the city of Udine has also taken up the matter

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was the target of racist abuse from Udinese fans in a recent match against Udinese. In addition to the club, the city of Udine itself has decided to address the matter.

AC Milan keeper Maignan the target of racist abuse

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan faced verbal attacks in the recent match of the 21st round of Serie A. And not just any abuse. Although the Rossoneri won 3:2 at Udinese, the French goalkeeper was subjected to a number of racist insults.

According to Football Italia, it was a small group of ten people who repeatedly shouted racist insults at Maignan during the first half at the Bluenerga stadium.

The head referee of the match in round 21 of the Italian top flight suspended play for a few minutes and warned the home supporters that the match would be abandoned if this behaviour continued.

The action of the Udinese fans then had a symbolic consequence in the next match between AC Milan and Bologna, in which the Rossoneri drew 2-2 at the San Siro. The home side stopped Saturday’s game in the 16th minute to show their support for their goalkeeper.

Udinese were punished for their supporters with a one-match stadium closure and four of their supporters were banned for life. In a previous article, we also reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino had suggested that matches to teams whose supporters commit racist insults should be contumed.

Racist insults were also addressed by the city itself

The city of Udine itself then insists that racist insults against the AC goalkeeper have nothing to do with the city’s values. It is a centre of integration and multiculturalism, as Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni said after the Milan match.

He also proposed that Maignano be awarded honorary citizenship of Udine. However, this idea was rejected by the council.

According to the city, the Udinese ultras have not helped the overall situation. During last weekend’s match at Atalanta Bergamo, they held up a banner with the following text. “Do you think we are racist? Well, then you are smug hypocrites.”

Source: Serie A, Football Italia