By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Six months after Kevin Prince Boateng famously walked off the pitch during a winter break friendly because of racist abuse that led directly to strict new anti-discrimination measures by football’s two main authorities, another AC Milan player has followed suit.
Midfielder Kevin Constant emulated Boateng’s stance during a pre-season friendly at fellow Sassuolo, won 2-1 by the Serie A newcomers.
The 26-year-old Guinea international kicked the ball into the crowd and left the pitch in the 34th minute. Milan sent on a substitute, and an announcement warned that the game – part of a tournament that also involved domestic champions Juventus – would be stopped if further incidents occurred.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) launched an immediate inquiry while Constant tweeted a mock-up poster of teammates Boateng, Mario Balotelli and M’Baye Niang and the title ‘Stop Racism’.
Earlier this year, both FIFA and UEFA announced strong new measures to tackle racism, with lengthy bans and the possibility that teams could be relegated or expelled from competitions for serious incidents. FIFA also set up a new anti-discrimination Task Force, headed by CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, to monitor the issue.
But while Boateng’s actions were supported by the rest of his Milan team back in January, the club did not wholeheartedly back Constant’s behaviour.
“This was not a decision he should have taken upon himself to make,” Milan said in a statement. “Despite his more than understandable reasons and the anger he must have felt, AC Milan would like to remind everyone that the only people responsible for intervening against any manifestations that offend the human dignity, which includes racial discrimination, are the referee in charge of the match and the head of public safety.”
However, the statement added that racism deserves “zero tolerance”.
Sassuolo, about to start its first ever season in Serie A after winning the second division title last season, won the pre-season tournament and reacted immediately with an apology from president Giorgio Squinzi.
But the club are unlikely to avoid being punished. An Italian FA statement said: “The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation to ascertain the extent of the racist incident that took place at the Stadio del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia during the Milan-Sassuolo match, which saw AC Milan player Kevin Constant the subject of chants from some supporters in the stands.”
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