Milan’s Maignan Subjected to Racist Chants in Verona Clash

The tension surrounding the Verona-Milan match persisted even after the final whistle, with Milan securing a 1-0 victory. The aftermath saw heightened agitation, particularly involving Milan’s goalkeeper and captain, Mike Maignan.

According to reports, Maignan was visibly upset and confronted the referee post-match. The French goalkeeper claimed to have heard racist chants directed at him during the game. In response, the stadium announcer urged spectators to refrain from racist behavior, which ironically triggered a wave of whistles from the crowd.

This incident bears a striking resemblance to an event last season in Udine. On January 20th, Maignan reported racist chants to the referee, leading to a brief match suspension. On that occasion, Maignan left the field, followed by his teammates and coach Stefano Pioli, resulting in a five-minute game interruption.

Following the Udine incident, Maignan stated, “This shouldn’t happen in stadiums. I heard monkey noises. It’s not the first time, but I felt everyone’s support. We’re here to play football, entertain fans, and put on a show. I was angry, and we decided to go to the locker room. Then we talked and returned to the field. The best response was winning the match.”

The Udine club faced sanctions for the previous incident, initially ordered to play one match behind closed doors. This was later reduced to two matches with a closed North Stand section.

These recurring incidents highlight the ongoing challenge of combating racism in football, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and decisive action from clubs, governing bodies, and fans alike.