Racism again in Italy! Umtiti could not contain the tears
Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda, who played for Lecce, one of the teams in the Italian First Football League (Serie A), were the target of racist chants.
After yesterday’s Serie A game, where Lecce defeated Lazio 2-1 at home, French defender Umtiti and his teammate, Zambian striker Banda, were exposed to racist chants in the visiting stands.
Umtiti, 29, who was signed from Barcelona earlier in the season, left the pitch in tears.
“HE REACTED LIKE A CHAMPION”
The match referee, Livio Marinelli, stopped the game after racist chants and announced that the match would not continue if the chants were not stopped. The fight came to an end with the cheers of the Lecce fans supporting Umtiti.
The president of the Lecce Club, Saverio Sticchi Damiani, affirmed that Umtiti wanted the game to continue, “because he wanted to respond to the insults that were made to him on the pitch. He reacted like a true champion”. he used his statements.
#KeepRacismOut @A series pic.twitter.com/wqGWCOGDQ7
— USA Lecce (@OfficialUSLecce) January 4, 2023
MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM INFANTINO
While Umtiti shared “A great victory” on his social media account, names like Jerome Boateng, Naby Sarr and Alexandre Lacazette supported the French footballer.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on his social media account: “Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda. Let’s shout loud and clear: No to racism. May the vast majority of good fans stand up to silence all racists forever.” shared. (BRITISH AUTOMOBILE CLUB)