AC MILAN WERE left red-faced amid a social media backlash that mocked the club for a bizarre pre-match haka ritual dance prior to last night’s Serie A game.
Seven-time European champions Milan hosted relegation-haunted Carpi at the legendary San Siro stadium looking for a win to boost their bid to qualify for next season’s Europa League.
But fans were left baffled in the lead-up to kick-off when two ‘teams’ of players — dressed to look like AC Milan and Carpi — appeared on the pitch.
After both teams ran down the end of the pitch, the ‘Milan’ team proceeded to perform a haka — the ritual war dance usually performed by New Zealand’s All Blacks prior to their rugby games.
With electronic advertisement hoardings blazing the message: ‘Men, this is your ritual’, it quickly became apparent the ‘players’ were actors and the dance all part of a publicity campaign for a well-known men’s face cream.
Several of Milan’s players currently appear in television adverts for Nivea cream, although Thursday’s display did little to soothe the concerns of fans amid yet another disastrous season for the club.
Indeed, Milan fans around the world voiced their disgust at the depths to which Milan, and football, have plummeted. Owner Silvio Berlusconi is actively seeking a buyer for either a majority or minority share in the club.
Milan’s failure to beat a team currently struggling to stay in Italy’s top flight was the bottom of the barrel for disgruntled fans of a team that will miss the Champions League for the third year in succession.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
