Riots arose after just over half an hour of play between Milan and Udinese. The red and black star Mike Maignan stepped off the field in anger and initially refused to play. The reason was that he was exposed to racism from the stands, reports journalist Nicolo Schira. The match was temporarily paused and the interruption lasted approximately ten minutes.
– I heard monkey sounds. I said we couldn’t play football when it was like that. It’s not the first time this has happened to me. They are ignorant people. This kind of thing shouldn’t happen in football, says Maignan to Sky, after the match.
Left the plan
In connection with the commotion, Maignan took off his gloves, stepped into the players’ tunnel and for a while it did not seem as if he would play on. Other players came forward and spoke to Maignan, who then returned to the pitch and the meeting resumed.
– It is very brave of him to leave the field. It is the right of the referee to stop the match. This is a big shame for Italian football, says Fotbollkanalen’s columnist Siavoush Fallahi in Fotbollsördag Europa.
“Incredibly difficult and tough for him”
TV4’s expert commentator Vicki Blommé:
– I feel bad when he is forced back onto the pitch and it seems to be against his will. Maybe he does it because teammates and opponents want the game to be finished. Then he has to sacrifice himself in a situation where he feels bad. It looks incredibly difficult and tough for him, she says in Fotbollslördag Europa.
Milan won the match 3-2. Noah Okafor became the big hero with a goal in extra time.