The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has called for the automatic loss of matches to be applied to teams whose fans use racist insults, following the "totally abhorrent" incidents that occurred in Udine (Italy) and Sheffield (United Kingdom).
AC Milan players left the field after French international goalkeeper Mike Maignan reported hearing monkey noises coming from a section of the crowd at the Stadio Friuli. In the end, the Milan players came back to secure the 3-2 victory in added time.
Meanwhile, Coventry's Kasey Palmer declared having received similar insults at Hillsborough in the match against Sheffield Wednesday (1-2), which was stopped for several minutes while the match referees spoke to both teams.
Infantino said there should be harsher punishments. "In addition to the three-step process - match stopped, match resumed and match abandoned - we have to implement an automatic loss for the team whose fans have committed racist acts and caused the match to be abandoned, as well as bans on access to stadiums across the country. the world and criminal charges for racists," he declared in a FIFA post on X.
Furthermore, he assured that both FIFA and football in general "are in full solidarity with the victims of racism and any form of discrimination." "Once and for all: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination! The events that took place in Udine and Sheffield on Saturday are totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable. The players affected by the events on Saturday have everything my support," he said. "We need all stakeholders to take action, starting with education in schools so that future generations understand that this is not part of football or society," he added.
Maignan said something had to change as racist abuse has been a part of football for too long. "This should not exist in the world of football, but unfortunately it has been repeated for many years. With all the cameras present and the sanctions for these things, something must be done to change things. We all have to react, we must do something because you can't play like that," he told Milan TV after confirming that he had heard fans making monkey noises.
Both Milan and city rivals Inter have publicly supported Maignan; Serie A said he "condemns all forms of racism" while French striker Kylian Mbappé said "enough is enough." "You are far from being alone, Mike Maignan. We are all with you. The same problems continue and there is still no solution. Enough is enough. No to racism," Mbappé posted on X.
Coventry midfielder Palmer admitted his skepticism about the possibility of things changing in football. "Racism is a disgrace... it has no place in the world, much less in football. I am black and I am proud of it, and I am raising my three children to be exactly the same. To be honest, I have the feeling that things will never change, no matter how hard we try. A couple of fans making monkey chants does not define a fan: I appreciate all the love and support I have received," he stressed.
Coventry owner Doug King and coach Mark Robins condemned the insults and offered their full support to Palmer, while Sheffield Wednesday said they were "shocked and saddened" by the alleged incident, and whoever is found guilty will face will face "the strictest possible sanctions from both Sheffield Wednesday and the law."
