Lazio midfielder Marcos Antonio called out a racist Biancocelesti supporter, who expressed his excitement for a ‘squad without any black players’.
The 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder joined the Roman club last year from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth around €7.5m, signing a five-year contract.
He struggled for consistent minutes in his first season under Maurizio Sarri and recent reports suggest that he could be sold this summer.
A Lazio supporter, seemingly a member of the club’s ultras, posted a comment on Twitter referencing Marcos Antonio’s possible sale, saying: “With the latest signings and the now imminent sale of Marcos Antonio, we will return to having a squad without any black players: good morning.”
The Brazilian midfielder publicly called out the Biancocelesti fan, sharing the post and adding: “It’s unbelievable and unacceptable that in this day and age we still have to read this kind of situation. So, know that you won’t shake me at all. My head will always be high and eager to fight against this nonsense.”
A number of other Lazio fans shared their support for Marcos Antonio, denouncing the racist comment.
The club themselves responded, commenting: “Marcos, your battle against racism is ours. The whole of S.S. Lazio is with you. For that uncivil comment there is only one word: shame.”
Marcos Antonio made 22 appearances across all competitions last season for Lazio, seeing 763 total minutes of action. In that time, he scored one goal and provided one assist, showing some positive signs despite his limited opportunities.