"I am Mike, standing, black and proud": the strong message of Maignan, victim of racist insults in Turin

It is a strong and courageous message.

A few hours after the announcement by Juventus of the start of a procedure to identify the person or people who launched racist insults at the French goalkeeper of AC Milan, Sunday before the draw (1-1) between the two clubs , Mike Maignan testified Tuesday night on Instagram.

“Sunday evening, at the Allianz Stadium, supporters of Juventus targeted me with insults and racist cries, he begins.

As long as we treat these events as "isolated incidents" and do not take a comprehensive action, history is bound to repeat itself over and over and over again.

What are we doing to fight racism in football stadiums?

"

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In a video posted on social networks, we hear racist insults against the goalkeeper N.2 of the Blues as he warmed up on the lawn of Juventus Stadium just before the match. Juventus has launched a procedure to identify the people involved, a spokesperson for the Turin club confirmed to AFP.

According to Italian media, the Italian Federation could also use the video to investigate.

"I am not a" victim "of racism"

“We need to be more numerous and to be united in this battle for society which goes beyond football.

In the instances, do the people who decide know what it feels like to hear insults and cries relegating us to the rank of animals?

", He added, before concluding:" I am not a "victim" of racism.

I am Mike, upright, black and proud ”.

While the stadiums have just reopened to the public in Italy (in a limit limited to 50%) after 18 months behind closed doors, this is already the second episode linked to racist behavior shaking Serie A.

The Federation opened an investigation Friday after alleged racist cries targeting another AC Milan player, French midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko, during the match on September 12 in San Siro against Lazio Rome (2-0).

On Instagram, Bakayoko had accused "certain supporters of Lazio" of being at the origin of "racist cries towards (him) and Franck Kessié".

The last few seasons have been punctuated by recurring incidents in Italy, in particular with the trivialization of "cries of monkeys".

This Tuesday, the Italian League also imposed a fine of 10,000 euros on Udinese because of insulting chants of its supporters, of "territorial nature", having targeted the fans of Naples on Monday evening during the 4th day of Serie A .