Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli, M’Baye Niang, Patrick Vieira and Rio Ferdinand praised Kevin-Prince Boateng and Milan for walking off amid racist chanting. “Finally!
Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli, M’Baye Niang, Patrick Vieira and Rio Ferdinand praised Kevin-Prince Boateng and Milan for walking off amid racist chanting. “Finally! We are all tired of this.”
The Ghanaian kicked the ball into the stands just 26 minutes into today’s friendly against Pro Patria and walked away with his teammates after repeated racist chanting from a small section of supporters.
“Finally!” declared Italy manager Prandelli on TG1. “A great team, a great Coach and a great man. Massimiliano Allegri understood the problem. We are all tired of this. We are all fed up.
“Italy must grow up and this is the first step. Milan were fantastic, as all together we can probably manage to ruin the plans of these few people…”
Boateng was not the only player insulted in today’s game in Busto Arsizio, a small industrial town between Varese and Milan, as Sulley Ali Muntari and M’Baye Niang were also playing.
“We are ready to do this again in Serie A or the Champions League, even if we are playing against Barcelona or Real Madrid,” declared Niang.
“Our captain Massimo Ambrosini did the right thing by taking the team off the field. I’d never seen anything like this in France.”
Around the world football stars are flocking to congratulate Boateng and Milan on their reaction to the racist chanting.
“It was brave of Kevin Prince Boateng to do what he did today, and it was the right thing. We need to stand up and stand together. Well done,” wrote ex-Milan midfielder Vieira on Twitter.
“Now is the time for the football authorities to stand up and do something. We need to see real actions that will have a genuine influence.
“AC Milan are an example to all. It's a strong and bold statement to make by the Club and players.”
England defender Ferdinand also took to Twitter to discuss the incident.
“If the stories about KPB walking off the pitch with teammates after being racially abused are true, fair play to him…well done.”