Headline:
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan leads team off pitch after alleged racist abuse from Udinese fans
Lead Paragraph:
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan walked off the pitch during a Serie A match against Udinese on Saturday after being subjected to alleged racist chants from the home fans. The incident prompted a brief suspension of the game, with Maignan and his teammates returning to the field after a few minutes to continue play, eventually winning 3-2.
Body:
During the match at Stadio Friuli, Maignan, 28, reported monkey chants directed at him to the referee, leading to an announcement asking fans to stop the abusive behavior. Despite this, the chants continued, prompting Maignan to signal to his teammates to stop play and walk to the referee before leaving the field.
Maignan told DAZN, They made monkey noises and it’s not the first time it’s happened to me. On the touchline, his teammates attempted to console him before Maignan removed his gloves and walked down the tunnel, followed by his teammates.
The match was suspended for approximately five minutes before restarting with Maignan and the AC Milan team returning to the field. Maignan expressed his desire to leave the game but felt a sense of responsibility to his teammates.
I was upset to have to go into the changing room like that but I had everyone’s support, Maignan said. We talked and then we made the decision to go back out onto the field and make the appropriate response – to win this game. I really didn’t want to play anymore. But we’re a family and I couldn’t leave my teammates like that.
In response to the incident, AC Milan issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, stating, There is absolutely no place in our game for racism: we are appalled. We are with you, Mike. Inter Milan, the league leaders, also showed support, posting, We are brothers of the world, against all forms of discrimination. By your side. The official Serie A account also tweeted, The league condemns all forms of racism.
Udinese is likely to face a partial stadium closure for its next home match as a result of the incident. Maignan has previously been targeted by racist chants in a game at Cagliari two seasons ago.
Racism in Italian and European soccer has been a long-standing issue, with high-profile cases involving players such as Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mario Balotelli, and Romelu Lukaku.
Conclusion:
The incident involving Maignan highlights the ongoing struggle against racism in soccer and the need for continued efforts to eradicate such behavior from the sport. The support from other teams and the league indicates a growing consensus that action must be taken to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all players.
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