Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan fell victim to racial abuse during Saturday night’s game against Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium. Stefano Pioli’s side pulled off an epic comeback to take home a 3-2 victory and maintain their faint hopes of catching up with Inter and Juventus.
However, the result paled into insignificance as another racial scandal overshadowed the contest. Milan were 1-0 up midway through the first half when the incident in the stands compelled Maignan to ask referee Fabio Maresca to stop the proceedings.
Racial chants Udinese hooligans threw the French goalkeeper’s way left the Milan star fuming. Evidently annoyed, Maignan unceremoniously left the pitch and stormed into the tunnel, urging the match officials to take action against those responsible.
“What happened in the first half is that at the first goal kick, I heard monkey noises, I said nothing. The second time I went to get the ball, I heard it again. I told the fourth official and my bench what happened,” the Milan stopper said, as quoted by Calciomercato.
“I said we cannot play football like this. It is not the first time it has happened this way. We have to say that what they are doing is wrong. It is not the whole crowd, most fans want to cheer on their team and jeer you, that’s normal, but not this.”
Late goals from second-half substitutes Luka Jovic and Noah Okafor turned the game on its head. But the unpleasantry Maignan suffered left everyone close to Milan with a bitter taste in their mouth.
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