Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan released a statement after he was subjected to repeated racist abuse from Udinese fans. ‘If you do nothing, you will also be complicit.’
The anti-racism protocol was followed at the Bluenergy Stadium last night, as the Rossoneri star alerted the referee to unacceptable insults.
The first time a warning was read out, the official suspended play for five minutes the second time and the crowd was warned a third would see the match abandoned.
Maignan received a great deal of support from all over the world of football and has now released his own statement on social media.
“It was not the player who was attacked. It was the man. He is a father with a family. This isn’t the first time this has happened to me. And I am not the first person it has happened to.
“We issued press releases, advertising campaigns, protocols and nothing has changed. Today, an entire system must take responsibility.
“1) The perpetrators of these acts, because it is easy to act in a group, in the anonymity of a platform.
“2) The spectators who were in the stand, who saw everything, who heard everything but who chose to remain silent, you are complicit.
“3) Udinese as a club, which only spoke of an interruption of the match, as if nothing had happened, you are complicit.
“4) The authorities and the prosecutor, with everything that is happening, if you do nothing, YOU WILL ALSO BE COMPLICIT.
“I have already told you and if it bears repeating: I am not a VICTIM. And I want to say thank you to my club AC Milan, to my teammates, to the referee, to the Udinese players and to everyone who sent me messages, who called me, who supported privately and publicly. I can’t answer everyone, but I see you and we are TOGETHER.
“It is a difficult fight, which will take time and courage. But it’s a fight we will win.”
The reference to the Udinese is their official Twitter account, which during the game only released a message noting that the game had been suspended for a few minutes, without specifying it was due to Maignan receiving racist abuse.
Only late this morning did Udinese mention the incident on their website and social media channels.
Ce n’est pas le joueur qui a été attaqué. C’est l’homme. C’est le père de famille. Ce n’est pas la première fois que ça m’arrive. Et je ne suis pas le premier à qui ça arrive.
On a fait des communiqués, des campagnes de publicité, des protocoles et rien n’a changé.… pic.twitter.com/47tfcW4oNo
— Magic Mike Maignan (@mmseize) January 21, 2024