Mike Maignan reacts after the match. (Courtesy: AC Milan/Twitter)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for automatic forfeit of games for football teams whose fans commit racist abuse. The stricter implication drawn by the governing body comes after AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan walked off the pitch after being subjected to alleged racist chants by Udinese fans during a Serie A game on Saturday.
The implications demanded by FIFA, go beyond the current “three-step process”. For the uninitiated, in the three-step process, the play is abandoned twice before a match. “We have to implement an automatic forfeit for the team whose fans have committed racism and caused the match to be abandoned, as well as worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for racists,” Infantino said in a statement.
“The events that took place in Udine and Sheffield on Saturday are totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable. The players affected by Saturday’s events have my undivided support. Fifa and football shows full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination.
“Once and for all: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!” the head of world football’s governing body added. “We need ALL the relevant stakeholders to take action, starting with education in schools so that future generations understand that this is not part of football or society.”
Minutes after Milan scored the opener and was about to take the goal kick, Maignan signaled his teammates to stop, walked to the referees, and then walked off the pitch. “They made monkey noises and it”s not the first time it”s happened to me,” the 28-year-old Maignan told DAZN.
Maignan”s teammates tried to console him on the touchline, but then the 28-year-old France international removed his gloves and walked down the tunnel, where his teammates followed him. He had told the referee about the monkey chants earlier during the match, which promoted an announcement in the Stadio Friuli, asking the fans to stop.
The Serie A game resumed after five minutes when Maignan and his teammates stepped out on the field. AC Milan won the match 3-2.
