da premier bet： Udinese have been ordered to play one game behind closed doors after racist abuse was directed at AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

da pixbet： Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Udinese fans abused Milan goalkeeperGame was subsequently pausedMaignan's call for strong sanctions ignoredWHAT HAPPENED?

Maignan was abused during Milan's clash with Udinese and, as a result, the game was paused, after the goalkeeper chose to walk off the pitch. While the match resumed 10 minutes later – Milan won 3-2 – Maignan called after the game for "very strong sanctions" to be meted out by Serie A, but those demands have been ignored, with just one game to be played behind closed doors.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT MAIGNAN SAID

At the time, Maignan said: "I said we cannot play football like this. It is not the first time it has happened this way. They must hand out very strong sanctions, because talking no longer does anything.

"We have to say that what they are doing is wrong. It is not the whole crowd – most fans want to cheer on their team and jeer you. That's normal, but not this.

"At the first goal-kick I heard monkey noises, I said nothing. The second time I went to get the ball, I heard it again. I told the fourth official and my bench what happened. This isn't the first time it has happened. I did not want to play, but we are a family and I could not leave my team-mates like that."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Serie A has a serious problem with racism and this punishment shows there is no real deterrent for such behaviour. Previously, Romelu Lukaku has been sent off – via a second yellow card – for standing up to Juventus fans who were allegedly abusing him, while Leonardo Bonucci claimed Moise Kean was provoking Cagliari fans who were being abusive. The main deterrent could be to force teams to forfeit games if their fans are found guilty of racism, as has been suggested by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

GettyWHAT NEXT?

Maignan will next be in action for Milan against Bologna on Saturday. It remains to be seen if Serie A will ever find a way to stamp out the racism problem that has been endemic in the league for years.