January 5 – Supportive messages have poured in, including from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, after French international Samuel Umtiti was racially abused by Lazio fans who have once again tarnished the sport in Italy.
Umtiti left the pitch in tears to a standing ovation after his Lecce side came from behind to win 2-1 in a Serie A fixture Wednesday night.
The victory was marred by appalling chanting from the away end, where fans targeted Umtiti and Zambia international striker Lameck Banda in the latest case of racist abuse in Italian football by clubs connected with country’s far right, Lazio being one of the prime culprits.
The abuse prompted a rare Instagram post from Infantino who said: “Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda – let’s shout it loud and clear: NO TO RACISM! May the huge majority of fans, who are good people, stand up to shut up all the racists once and for all.”
The referee stopped the game in the second half while the stadium announcer pleaded with the Lazio away fans to refrain from their chanting.
Home fans chanted Umtiti’s name to drown out the abuse and Lecce President Saverio Sticchi Damiani said the French 2018 World Cup winner, who is on loan from Barcelona, had asked for the game to resume. “He wanted to respond on the pitch to the insults. He reacted like a true champion.”
Later Umtiti posted a message on Instagram saying: “Only football, fun, joy. The rest doesn’t count.”
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