AFTER LAST WEEK’S friendly with Pro Patria was halted when Kevin Prince Boateng walked off the pitch in protest to racist chants from the home support, the AC Milan sent out a message prior to today’s game with Siena.
The players wore jerseys with the words “AC MILAN AGAINST RACISM” written across the back prior to the Serie A fixture, which they won 2-1 thanks to goals from Bojan Krkic and Giampaolo Pazzini.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes Boateng was wrong to walk off the pitch when he was targeted by racists although he insists he supports the battle to beat the bigots.
“Walk off? No. I don’t think that is the solution,” the FIFA chief told The National newspaper on Sunday.
I don’t think you can run away. This issue is a very touchy subject, but I repeat there is zero tolerance of racism in the stadium; we have to go against that. The only solution is to be very harsh with the sanctions — and the sanctions must be a deduction of points or something similar.”
Blatter repeated that FIFA has a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to racism.
“This action is an example that the spectators must behave well because, as I understand it, the player ran away and the others went with him. They cannot go on abusing afterwards,” he said.
Both FIFA and UEFA have previously warned against players walking off the pitch in protest.
- Additional reporting from © AFP, 2012
