Mike Maignan took it to Instagram to address what happened in the recent game: “Sunday night, at the Allianz Stadium, Juventus fans targeted me with racial chants and slurs. What do you want me to say? That racism is wrong, and these fans are stupid? It is not about that. I will not be the first nor the last player to be the subject of these things.”
“These incidents will continue to happen time and time again as long as they are labeled as isolated incidents, and there is not a global call for action. What are we doing to fight racism in the stadiums? Do you really think that is effective? I belong to a club that is making an effort to tackle all forms of discrimination.”
Maignan continued: “We have to be more numerous and united in this battle, which is bigger than football. Do those in the governing bodies know what it feels like to hear slurs that compare us to animals? Do they know how that affects our families that do not understand how that still happens in 2021? I am not a victim of racism. I am Mike, black and proud. Until we can use our voice to change things, we will do it.”
Milan denounced that the same thing happened in the Lazio game toward Tiemoué Bakayoko, and the Italian FA opened an investigation. The Rossoneri stated that they are in touch with Juventus to find out the fans who racially abused Maignan. The Old Lady have banned the culprits in similar instances in the past.