Anyone who does nothing is complicit. It is those who decide not to silence the group of fans who chant boo and racist chants sitting a few seats away, “they saw everything, they heard everything and they decided to remain silent”. This is Udinese “who only talked about interrupting the match, as if nothing had happened”. And if the authorities and the prosecutor “do nothing, they too will be complicit”. It is Mike Maignan’s indictment of the football system, the day after the racist insults of which he was the target in the match against Udinese. The AC Milan goalkeeper hopes for severe consequences for Saturday night’s events. Those fans who shouted ‘monkey’ at him for much of the first half must be punished.
“It’s a system that must take responsibility”, thunders the Rossoneri on Instagram. It is the failure of a sport, of carefully studied awareness initiatives, of slogans that often remain just that. “It’s not the first time it’s happened to me and I’m not the first it’s happened to. We’ve made announcements, advertising campaigns, protocols and nothing has changed”, recalls the French player bitterly. It’s a repeating script for Maignan. It had already happened in the Juventus-Milan warm-up in September 2021, at the time he wrote a thought on social media that now sounds prescient: “As long as these events are treated as ‘isolated incidents’ and no global action is taken, history is destined to repeat itself again and again and again.” So it was, a few months later against Cagliari in March 2022, his teammate Tomori was also targeted. And so he was in Udine.
It was not the player who was attacked. It’s the man. He’s the father of the family. This isn’t the first time this has happened to me. And I’m not the first this has happened to.
We made press releases, advertising campaigns, protocols and nothing has changed.… pic.twitter.com/47tfcW4oNo
— Magic Mike Maignan (@mmseize) January 21, 2024
For further information Agenzia ANSA Udinese-Milan 2-3. Racist chants against Maignan – News – Ansa.it Maresca interrupts the match. Then the match resumes (ANSA)
Maignan receives the solidarity of many, thanks them in his message on social media: “I said before, I am not a victim, and I want to say thanks to my club Milan, to my teammates, to the referee and to the players of Udinese, and to everyone who has messaged me, called me, supported me privately and publicly. I can’t reply to everyone but I see you and we are together.”
Milan, out of solidarity with their goalkeeper, in the era of social networks in which every post has an image but also an economic and commercial value, decides on social silence. No content published, to highlight – paradoxically without using words or images – what happened. The condemnation is unanimous. Many players, even from other teams, wanted to express their closeness to the Rossoneri goalkeeper. Even his national teammate Kylian Mbappe expressed his disdain: “You are very far from being just Mike Maignan. We are all with you. Always the same problems and still no solution.”
At the end of his long reflection, Maignan sends a message of strength and hope. “It is a tough fight, it will take time and courage. But it is a fight that we will win”, he writes. Strong words from an internationally renowned player, who arrived in Italy two and a half years ago and who, despite himself, is forced to remind everyone how long the road still remains in the fight against racism.
Salvini: ‘Shameful chants, I hope action is taken’
The chants on Saturday were “shameful” and I hope that 2024 brings a new culture and a new sporting spirit to the stadiums. I hope that those responsible will intervene, I saw the Udinese club has already intervened with clear words, I think we cannot blame entire cities or clubs for a few idiots”. Thus the deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini on the boos addressed to the Milan goalkeeper Maignan. ” I’m counting on the fact that we’re only discussing sporting events – he adds – then yesterday we incredibly won in Udine, let’s say that these idiots brought us luck. Maignan has all my solidarity as a sportsman, fan, as an Italian and as a civil person.”
Tajani: ‘Maignan did well, racism is idiotic’
“Maignan is right to protest, there is a cultural issue: all men are equal, everyone must be respected. It is right to condemn these episodes, they should never happen. You can criticize some players but racism is for idiots. Then it becomes a mountain that grows: we must block all racism from the beginning.” This was stated by the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, on Stasera Italia on Rete 4.
Maresca: ‘Maignan my brother, what a pain those rude boos’
“I behaved like an older brother, I felt sincere regret for Maignan who was clearly affected on an emotional level: how uncomfortable I felt for those boorish boos…”. Fabio Maresca, the referee who interrupted Udinese-Milan for racist episodes against the Rossoneri goalkeeper, explains the case that is talked about all over the world and characterizes its emotional aspects. “Without prejudice – he adds – that the regulation is clear, the line of the Hague and of the designator Rocchi do not allow for misunderstandings and I limited myself to following them, as is my duty”.
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2024-01-22 06:28:00
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