Milan released a statement on their official website after Kevin-Prince Boateng suspended a friendly with Pro Patria due to the racism “that infests our stadiums.”
Milan released a statement on their official website after Kevin-Prince Boateng suspended a friendly with Pro Patria due to the racism “that infests our stadiums.”
This was meant to be a typical midweek run-out against a Lega Pro Second Division club in Busto Arsizio, Varese, but the game was abandoned when Boateng became frustrated with racist chanting from a small section of the crowd.
The Ghanaian kicked the ball into the stands, removed his jersey and walked off, followed by his Milan teammates (VIDEO). This gesture has earned praise and declarations of solidarity from all over the world as well as within Italian football.
“Busto Arsizio is a civilised town,” wrote Milan on their official website. “Nobody can argue against that. Milan will return gladly and with heads held high.
“But the racist chanting from those tiny, tiny people today could not go unpunished. They are condemned by the shame they must feel when, caused by a few, many are robbed of a relaxing afternoon of sport.
“In the stands of the Stadio Speroni in Busto Arsizio there were sports fans, their families and their children. There were good people representing sport, the pure and healthy spectators who wanted to sit next to others and enjoy a great friendly match.
“These people were the first to disassociate themselves from the tiny, tiny group in the stadium that made the continuation of this game impossible.
“At a certain point, Milan said enough. Those who share the colour of the heart of Boateng, Sulley Muntari and Mbaye Niang couldn’t take it anymore and decided it was time to teach a lesson to those fools.
“They were standing up with their ignorance, but it was as if they were under our feet. ‘Let everyone learn from this experience,’ said Coach Massimiliano Allegri. ‘We will return,’ promised captain Massimo Ambrosini.
“That will be the case, but only if Italian football definitively isolates those tiny, tiny people who infest our stadiums.”