Police punish 4 more Udinese soccer fans for racially abusing AC Milan goalkeeper
3 men and a woman handed 5-year bans from sports events in Italy
Four more Udinese fans who racially abused AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan were identified and punished on Wednesday in Italy.
Police said three men and a woman were all given five-year bans, the maximum sentence available, from all sports events in Italy. Ranging in age from 32 to 45, they were identified from the stadium's security camera footage.
Another fan had been identified and banned for life by Udinese on Monday and the club vowed to do the same for the other "evil people" amid calls for tougher sanctions from authorities. That fan had also received a five-year ban from police.
"The decision by the club to ban that fan for life from its stadium was a very important gesture, also because it came without waiting for the sport's sentence," former AC Milan player Kevin-Prince Boateng said.
"Udinese did something very important because when it happens again, the next club involved won't be able to do any less, but will have to do more."
Maignan, who is Black, walked off the field during Saturday's Serie A match at Udinese after being subjected to what he later said were monkey noises. The 28-year-old goalkeeper was joined by his teammates and the match was suspended for about five minutes before they returned, and Milan went on to win 3-2.
"It's really sad to see things like what happened last Saturday continue to occur," Milan teammate Yunus Musah said. "These actions must have consequences; something needs to be done. Our reaction on the field was right. It gave us the confidence that we are a united group, emerging from that evening stronger than before and with a victory."
Eleven years ago almost to the day, the 36-year-old Boateng walked off the pitch during a mid-season friendly match against lower-division club Pro Patria.
"There's been little change? I would say zero," the now-retired Boateng told Gazzetta dello Sport. "If the Milan goalkeeper has to leave the field it means that nothing has happened. It's not a sad thing anymore, it's simply shameful.
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"Everyone says, 'Yes, we'll do something, we'll act,' but then nothing happens because everyone thinks of themselves, few really take the initiative. So many are scared, the world has become like this."
Udinese to appeal decision barring fans from Feb. 3 game
On Tuesday, the Italian league's disciplinary judge ordered Udinese to play its next home game — Feb. 3 against Monza — behind closed doors as punishment for the racism.
Udinese announced late Wednesday it would appeal the decision.
"We reflected long and hard during the day whether to present an appeal or not," Udinese general manager Franco Collavino said in a statement. "However, after scrupulously reading the documents, we became aware that we needed to proceed in this way to protect the reputation of our club, historically multiethnic, and the hard work shown in pursuing those responsible.
"At the same time, we also want to protect our people … who have been unfairly prejudiced by a measure that hurts an entire fanbase because of the unspeakable behavior of a few."
Boateng said the current punishments by soccer authorities are of little deterrent.
"Empty stadiums don't really matter. People watch it on television for one time and then return to the stadium as if nothing had happened," Boateng said. "If instead the team loses, the fan is hit where it hurts.
"That would be a punishment that would make you think, or closing a stadium for six months could be an idea. One match is a joke, a punishment that makes me laugh. Something that doesn't scare people. But you need the support of everyone, it's too many years that we've been talking about it."
Maignan issued a statement on Sunday also calling for authorities to take stronger action.
There have been numerous racist incidents in Italian and European soccer for years, with victims in Italy also including Mario Balotelli and Romelu Lukaku.
This month, Lazio was sanctioned with a one-match partial stadium closure for racist chants directed at Lukaku.
"It's really sad to see things like what happened last Saturday continue to occur," Milan and United States midfielder Yunus Musah said. "These actions must have consequences; something needs to be done. Our reaction on the field was right. It gave us the confidence that we are a united group, emerging from that evening stronger than before and with a victory."
