Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan spoke publicly after a racist incident that disrupted the Serie A clash with Udinese, forcing a five-minute stoppage as he left the field. The confrontation drew attention after he reported the abuse to the fourth official, insisting that play could not continue under those conditions.
In a decisive moment of the match, Maignan told officials that the environment did not allow fair competition and safety for players. The decision was made to pause the game, with Maignan stepping away from play and heading toward the stands while teammates offered calm and support. After a brief halt, the referee resumed the game, and Maignan returned to his position to continue the contest.
The match concluded with Milan securing a 3-2 victory. Standout performers for Milan included Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Luka Jovic, and Noah Okafor, who delivered crucial goals, while Lazar Samardzic and Florian Thauvin found the net for Udinese.
From a standings perspective, Milan remained in third place in Serie A with 45 points. Inter Milan led the table with 51 points, followed by Juventus on 49. Udinese sat in 17th position, accumulating 18 points so far in the campaign. The incident underscored ongoing concerns about racism in football and highlighted the league’s commitment to player safety and appropriate responses to abuse on the field.
Historically, matches involving Udinese and Milan have faced similar challenges, leading to heightened awareness and calls for stronger measures against discriminatory chants. The episode added to a broader conversation within Italian football about enforcing anti-racism protocols and supporting players who experience abuse during competitive fixtures.