FIFA Infantino Calls for Automatic Forfeits in Response to Racist Incidents

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is advocating for automatic forfeits of games for teams whose fans engage in racist abuse, responding to incidents he deemed “totally abhorrent” at Udinese and Sheffield Wednesday. AC Milan’s victory at Udinese was temporarily halted due to alleged racist abuse towards goalkeeper Mike Maignan, prompting calls for harsher punishments, including worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for offenders. Infantino emphasized football’s solidarity against racism and discrimination, urging action from stakeholders, starting with education in schools. The incident led to AC Milan players briefly walking off the pitch, highlighting the recurring nature of such incidents.

Kasey Palmer of Coventry also faced racial abuse during a match, leading to a temporary stoppage. The incidents prompted support from Milan, Inter, and Kylian Mbappe, while Ian Wright applauded Milan’s solidarity. Despite these actions, Palmer expressed skepticism about significant change, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to combat racism. Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out supported the affected players and called for stronger punishments, emphasizing the role of authorities and clubs in addressing the issue.