AC Milan forward Rafael Leao latest victim of racial abuse in Italian Serie A | Football News
AC Milan forward Rafael Le├гo has denounced тАЬsmall-mindedтАЭ people after he was the latest victim of racial abuse as the problem continues to blight Italian soccer.
Le├гo, who is Black, shared an Instagram story from a social media user who had written in Italian: тАЬI canтАЩt bear to see you anymore. I canтАЩt bear to support you on the field. I am becoming racist тАж Go away as soon as possible, you and your followers.тАЭ
The 24-year-old Le├гo commented on it in Portuguese on Tuesday, saying: тАЬUnfortunately, there continues to be these type of small-minded people in the world.тАЭ
The latest incident of racism in Italian soccer comes exactly a month after Le├гo walked off the field with the rest of his Milan teammates after Rossoneri goalkeeper Mike Maignan was racially abused at Udinese.
The fans were swiftly identified and banned for life by Udinese.
тАЬWe stand with you Rafa,тАЭ Milan said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. тАЬIn our fanbase and in football, thereтАЩs no room for racism.тАЭ
There have been numerous racist incidents in Italian and European soccer for years, with victims in Italy including Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mario Balotelli and Romelu Lukaku.
Lazio was sanctioned with a one-match partial stadium closure last month for racist chants directed at Lukaku.
