• AC Milan’s Maignan denounces racist abuse in Udinese game.
• Calls the behavior “ignorant,” stresses it has no place in football.
• Highlights urgency to address racism in Serie A.

In a thrilling encounter at Udinese on Saturday, AC Milan’s French goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, found himself at the center of attention not only for his exceptional saves but also for the despicable racist abuse he endured from a section of Udinese supporters. The incident, marked by monkey chants directed at Maignan, prompted a temporary halt in the game and left the player visibly upset.

Maignan, who had previously faced racial abuse from a Juventus fan in September 2021, took a stand against the ignorant behavior. In an interview with Sky Sport after the match, he revealed that he heard monkey chants during goal kicks in the first half but chose not to respond immediately. It was only after the abuse persisted during the second goal kick that Maignan alerted the officials, leading to a brief interruption of the game.

“They’re ignorant people… You can be booed or whistled when you’re away from home, that’s normal, but what happened today has no place in football,” Maignan emphasized, highlighting the need to address the persistent issue of racism in Italian football.

This incident adds to the growing list of racially charged events in Serie A, with recent cases involving Romelu Lukaku of Lazio and players from Fiorentina, showcasing a disturbing trend within the league. Italy, with its history of fascist fan groups, especially among the “ultras,” continues to grapple with the scourge of racism in football stadiums.

The match itself was a rollercoaster, with Milan eventually securing a 3-2 victory over Udinese. The win was marred by the racist incident, but Milan demonstrated resilience, staging a comeback after Lazar Samardzic and Florian Thuavin had put Udinese in the lead. Noah Okafor’s decisive goal in added time extended Milan’s unbeaten run in the league to six matches.

Maignan’s bold response and condemnation of racism highlight the urgency for football authorities to address the issue and implement stricter measures against discriminatory behavior. The incident serves as a stark reminder that, despite ongoing efforts, racism continues to tarnish the beautiful game, prompting a collective call for change within the football community.