AC Milan's French goalkeeper Mike Maignan is "serene and strong" as he returns to the Italian Championship, six days after the racist insults he was the target of, his coach assured Friday.
“Mike is calm and strong, he is also proud of the support he has received from his club but also from the entire world of football,” Stefano Pioli said at a press conference.
“He trained very well this week,” continued the Italian technician on the eve of Milan's home match against Bologna, counting for the 22nd day of Serie A.
Last Sunday during his team's match on the Udinese field, spectators uttered racist insults and monkey cries towards the goalkeeper of the France team.
Also read “I am Mike, standing, black and proud”: Maignan, a goalkeeper who never gives up in the face of racism
He first warned the referee of the match, before leaving the field, imitated by his teammates, thus forcing the referee to interrupt the match.
It resumed after a five-minute interruption and was won by AC Milan (3-2), leading for a time 2-1.
“There are things that cannot be accepted”
“Udinese behaved irreproachably in their management of the situation and the sanctions,” said Pioli.
“99.9% of people go to the stadium to experience a moment of sport, to exult, to encourage the players and to show passion.
But there are things that cannot be accepted, the reactions (after these insults) were good from our club and from everyone.
We had to react firmly,” he stressed.
The Friuli club has issued stadium bans for life against five of its supporters, who were identified among the spectators who uttered racist insults.
Udinese was sanctioned for a match behind closed doors, but decided to appeal this sanction.