FIFA President Gianni Infantino Calls for Automatic Forfeit in Response to Recent Racist Incidents Involving Mike Maignan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly condemned the recent incidents of racist abuse that occurred during football matches at Udinese and Sheffield Wednesday, calling them “totally abhorrent” and “completely unacceptable.” In response to these incidents, Infantino proposed a significant measure to combat racism in football.

Infantino suggested the implementation of an automatic forfeit for teams whose fans are responsible for racist abuse, leading to the abandonment of the match. This proposal goes beyond the current “three-step process,” where play is stopped twice before a match is abandoned. The FIFA President also called for worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges against individuals involved in racist incidents.

In a statement posted on social media, Infantino expressed full solidarity with the players affected by the events at Udinese and Sheffield Wednesday. He emphasized the need for all relevant stakeholders to take action, starting with education in schools to ensure that future generations understand that racism has no place in football or society.

The incidents at Udinese saw Milan’s players walk off the pitch after goalkeeper Mike Maignan reported hearing monkey noises from the crowd. A similar case occurred at Sheffield Wednesday, where Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer faced racist abuse. Both matches experienced interruptions due to the reported incidents.

Maignan, who spoke out against racism, called for accountability, stating that those involved in such acts are complicit. He highlighted the importance of taking action to change the current situation, considering the presence of cameras and existing sanctions.

Kick It Out, an anti-discrimination organization, commended Maignan and Palmer for their courage in speaking out. However, they called for stronger and more meaningful punishments for racist abuse. The organization stressed that players should not be solely responsible for solving these issues and urged authorities and clubs to take action.

FIFA had previously announced the formation of a taskforce in June 2021 to tackle racism in football, with Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior playing a prominent role. The governing body faced criticism in 2016 for dissolving a previous anti-racism taskforce.

As discussions around combating racism in football continue, the incidents at Udinese and Sheffield Wednesday have reignited calls for more robust measures, including points deductions for teams and stricter sanctions to address this persistent issue in the sport.