Udinese will seek lifetime bans for spectators found guilty of racially abusing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan during Saturday's Serie A match, general manager Franco Collavino said on Monday.
French goalkeeper Maignan alerted the referee before leaving the field due to repeated racist chants from the local fans, according to Italian media. His teammates followed him into the tunnel before returning to the goal after a few minutes.
“The possible ban from the Daspo stadium imposed by the judicial authorities has a limited duration, but we will work to exclude these racists from the stadium for life,” Collavino told reporters, quoted by ANSA.
“There were no chants, both the referee and the federal prosecutor's office confirmed it to us… even if it were just one, it would still be very serious,” he added.
The Daspo ban, which can be issued by local law enforcement authorities, is a provision that prohibits a person from attending any sporting event in Italy if they have demonstrated violent or antisocial behavior.
Maignan held “the entire system” accountable in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, including those who abused him, those who saw everything but did nothing, Udinese and the authorities.
Udinese said in a statement on Sunday that the club “deeply regrets and condemns every act of racism and violence,” adding that it would “collaborate with all investigating authorities to ensure the immediate clarification of the incident.”
Maignan received the support of his national team coach on Saturday, and Didier Deschamps issued a statement regarding the Udine incident.
“I give my full support to Mike Maignan,” Deschamps said. “What happened to our goalkeeper yesterday in Udine is totally unacceptable.
“I completely understand his decision to leave the field of play. Racist insults are unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“Racism has no place anywhere and must be fought relentlessly.”
