Udinese, an Italian football club, has been ordered to play a home game behind closed doors following a racial abuse incident involving AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The decision was made by a judge from the Italian football federation (FIGC) after reviewing reports from the referee and the federal prosecutor’s office. The severity of the event has led to the implementation of this punishment, according to the official statement released.
During the match between Udinese and AC Milan on Saturday, Maignan experienced repeated racist abuse from the local fans. The goalkeeper alerted the referee and eventually left the pitch as a result. His teammates joined him in the tunnel, showing their support against the discriminatory behavior. However, Maignan returned to the goal after a short period and continued playing. The following day, the France international took to social media to call for accountability from “the entire system,” emphasizing the need for action to combat racism in football.
Udinese, in an official statement, condemned all forms of discrimination and pledged to cooperate fully with the authorities during the investigation into the incident. The club expressed its commitment to tackling racism and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all players, staff, and fans.
The local authorities in Udine, specifically the police, have taken action in identifying one of the individuals responsible for racially abusing Maignan. A 46-year-old man has been identified as one of the culprits, and further investigations are underway. Udinese’s general manager, Franco Collavino, has proposed the implementation of lifetime stadium bans for everyone found guilty in order to deter such behavior in the future.
As a consequence of this incident, Udinese will have to play their next home match against Monza behind closed doors. This means that no spectators will be allowed inside the stadium. The club’s management and players will have to face the consequences of the actions of a few individuals who engaged in racist abuse. Udinese currently sits 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone, and playing without the support of their home crowd could pose a further challenge for the team.
The racial abuse incident involving AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan has prompted the Italian football federation to hand down a punishment to Udinese. The decision to play behind closed doors serves as a reminder that racism has no place in football and that the sport’s governing bodies are determined to root out such behavior. It is now up to clubs, fans, and authorities to collectively work towards eradicating racism from football and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.