FIFA propose major rule change amid Mike Maignan and AC Milan walking off pitch after alleged racist chants

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called for a major rule change after incidents of alleged racist abuse at Udinese and Sheffield Wednesday.

On Saturday AC Milan players walked off the pitch after goalkeeper Mike Maignan reported hearing monkey noises from a section of the Udinese crowd at the Stadio Friuli. Milan’s players eventually returned and claimed a 3-2 victory, courtesy of an injury-time winner.

Meanwhile, Coventry’s Kasey Palmer said he received abuse racist abuse at Hillsborough, with the game stopped for several minutes while match officials spoke to both managers.

In the wake of both situations, Infantino said there should be harsher punishments.

He said in a FIFA post on X: “As well as the three-step process (match stopped, match re-stopped, match abandoned), we have to implement an automatic forfeit for the team whose fans have committed racism and caused the match to be abandoned, as well as worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for racists.

“FIFA and football shows full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. Once and for all: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!

“The events that took place in Udine and Sheffield on Saturday are totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable. The players affected by Saturday’s events have my undivided support.

“We need ALL the relevant stakeholders to take action, starting with education in schools so that future generations understand that this is not part of football or society.”

France No.1 Maignan called for change, adding that racist abuse has been in he game for far too long.

Maignan told Milan TV he heard fans making monkey noises, and added: “This shouldn’t exist in the world of football, but unfortunately for many years this is a recurrence.

“With all the cameras present and sanctions for these things, something must be done to change things.

“We all have to react, we must do something because you can’t play like this.”

Topics: Football, France, AC Milan, Racism, Gianni Infantino

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.