Subjected to racist abuse, AC Milan star Mike Maignan now finds himself being kicked around like a political football

A leading soccer goalkeeper, who is Black and was subjected to racist abuse during a match in Italy’s top league last month, now finds himself being kicked around like a political football.

A leading soccer goalkeeper, who is Black and was subjected to racist abuse during a match in Italy’s top league last month, now finds himself being kicked around like a political football. AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who also plays for the French national team, led his team off the pitch after Udinese fans allegedly made monkey sounds and other alleged racist chants towards the Frenchman during a Serie A match at the BlueEnergy Stadium in Udine, Italy – the latest in a long line of racist abuse incidents in Italian soccer. AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli said the player was “serene and strong” at a media conference before Milan’s Serie A home match against Bologna at the San Siro on January 27. CNN has reached out to AC Milan, Udinese and Maignan’s representatives who declined interviews. Maignan received widespread support from the football world and FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for automatic forfeits for teams whose fans have racially abused players. However, if a week is a long time in politics, the last few days must feel like an eternity for Maignan given Italian political parties seem to be more intent on scoring party points about the appropriate response to the abuse he endured. After initially ordering Udinese to play its February 3 match against AC Monza in an empty stadium, Italy’s football federation, the FIGC, overturned the decision after the Udine-based club appealed.