FIFA President Gianni Infantino calls for stronger measures against racism following ‘completely unacceptable’ incidents.
Incidents labeled as “totally abhorrent” unfolded at Udinese and Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, prompting FIFA president Gianni Infantino to advocate for more severe penalties against racism in football.
During AC Milan’s victory at Udinese, the match was briefly halted due to alleged racist abuse directed at Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan from home fans. Similarly, Coventry’s Kasey Palmer reported encountering similar abuse at Hillsborough.
In a post on social media, Infantino proposed implementing automatic forfeits for teams whose fans engage in racism leading to match abandonment. He called for worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for individuals involved in such incidents.
“Fifa and football show full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. Once and for all: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!” Infantino emphasized, expressing unequivocal support for the affected players.
Maignan and the AC Milan team walked off the pitch in response to the alleged “monkey noises” from the crowd at Stadio Friuli. Despite the temporary suspension, they returned to win the match 3-2. Maignan, speaking to Milan TV, highlighted the need for action in the face of recurring incidents and urged a collective response.
The president urged all stakeholders, beginning with educational institutions, to take action, emphasizing the importance of instilling the understanding that racism has no place in football or society.
Both AC Milan and Inter publicly supported Maignan, while Serie A condemned all forms of racism. French striker Kylian Mbappe echoed the sentiment, stating “enough is enough.”
During Coventry’s Championship win over Sheffield Wednesday, Palmer experienced a similar incident, leading to a temporary suspension of the match. The club confirmed the gesture originated from the stands and pledged the strictest possible sanctions for those found culpable.
Ian Wright, former England and Arsenal striker, praised the solidarity shown by the Milan side and advocated for teams to continue walking off the pitch when faced with abuse. He called for stronger sanctions to combat racism in football. Palmer expressed skepticism about meaningful change and condemned racism while affirming his pride and commitment to raising his children to be the same.
