MILAN, Jan 23, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Udinese will ban for life a man found to
have racially abused France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, the Serie A club
announced on Monday.

Maignan was abused during Udinese' 3-2 defeat to AC Milan on Saturday, which
was halted for five minutes in the first half after repeated offensive
remarks from behind the goal he was defending.

"Udinese Calcio has identified the first individual responsible for
discriminatory behaviour towards AC Milan player Mike Maignan," said the club
in a statement

"This person will face a lifetime ban from attending any Udinese Calcio
matches. This ban is effective immediately."

"We believe that such strong measures are necessary to send a clear message
that racism has no place in football or society... we will continue to work
tirelessly in order to identify and punish other individuals who were
involved in this incident."

Earlier on Monday, Italian media reported a 46-year-old man from near Udine
in north-eastern Italy had been identified, and he is believe to be the same
man in a video which circulated widely on social media.

In that video someone off camera can clearly be heard shouting the same
racist insult at Maignan multiple times after Lazar Samardzic scored
Udinese's first-half equaliser, netted after play had resumed.

Maignan challenged Italy's football authorities on Sunday by saying that "if
you do nothing, you will also be complicit".

Saturday was not the first time that Maignan has been racially abused by
supporters in Italy as he was targeted by a Juventus fan in September 2021.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino called for worldwide stadium bans for fans
and "automatic forfeits" for teams whose supporters hurl "abhorrent" abuse.