Milan teammate Rafael Leao and even other Italian clubs have taken a stand after Theo Hernandez was subjected to vile online abuse from Napoli fans.
The France international posted a picture of himself playing with his baby, a perfectly normal scene for any family.
However, as Theo Hernandez is a professional football player, it was taken by some as an invitation to send the most disgusting and inhuman messages.
Some were sent by Napoli supporters, also because the comments were written in Neapolitan dialect, hoping ‘you die and your son too’ and others writing he should ‘end up the same way as Gianluca Vialli,’ who recently died of cancer.
Theo Hernandez’s Milan teammate Rafael Leao reacted with a message for his friend.
“Unfortunately social networks are an instrument where everyone thinks they can say whatever they like. Don’t worry, brother, God is always with your family.”
The comments shocked the world of Italian football and Serie C club Pescara rushed to take a stand.
“How can you wish death on a person and his son? Our solidarity to Theo Hernandez, yet another athlete who is subjected to shameful comments that have nothing to do with sport.
“Condemning any offensive or disrespectful phrase towards a player (regardless of which jersey he wears) ought to find us all in agreement. And yet, judging by the comments we received here, that is not the case.
“People try, at all costs, to find some pretext to avoid stigmatising this behaviour and to fuel hatred. And we don’t want to give you this space.”
Napoli have already played Milan twice this month, losing 4-0 in Serie A and 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
The decider will be at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday evening and at least 2,500 Milan fans have purchased tickets.