«Unacceptable racism, chants are not an isolated case» – Corriere.it

Yet another episode of racism in our league
made me angry again Gianni Infantinopresident of Fifa, who took the field in Vlahovic defense.

The Juventus striker in Bergamo, in the match won 2-0 by the black and whites on Sunday 7 May, was the victim of racist chants from the Atalanta curve. “In football there is no place for racism or any other form of discrimination – reads Infantino’s Instagram stories -. It absolutely is the racist insult directed yesterday is unacceptable by fans towards Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus striker, during the Serie A match against Atalanta. This is not an isolated episode
and I call on the competent authorities to ensure that severe penalties are applied to tackle such incidents and act as a deterrent. Fifa and I stand by Dusan Vlahovic, as well as any other player, coach, match official, supporter or participant in a football match who has experienced racism or any other form of discrimination.”

It’s still: “The victims of these abuses must be supported and the perpetrators duly punished by the authorities at all levels. Furthermore, I reiterate the appeal that I have already launched several times in the past for fans to take a stand and silence the racists». To then conclude in large letters: «Once and for all: No to racism. No to any form of discrimination of discrimination”.

But what happened? “You’re a gypsy,” Curva Pisani yelled at Vlahovic in the most excited moment of Atalanta-Juventus. It all happened in the 90th minute when the centre-forward, who came on for Milik in the second half, cleared the ball after being fouled by Maehle. Koopmeiners and De Roon have also invited the ultras to stop, but without succeeding. The final is hot, so much so that the referee Doveri suspends the match for a minute, while the loudspeaker made the usual announcement. He resumed playing and Vlahovic doubles up, putting his index finger to his mouth without however addressing his protesters. Chiesa, who had given the assist to his teammate, put his hands behind his ears and the cursed choirs started again.

The referee then cautioned Vlahovic for a provocative exultation. In short, it’s another Lukaku case (precisely against Juventus, in the Italian Cup), even if the Serbian, not being warned, will not be disqualified.

The president of the Italian coaches association Renzo also spoke on the subject on Radio Anch’io Lo Sport, a broadcast on Rai Radio1 Olive treeswhich he stigmatised the words of the Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini. His statements at the end of the game (“Sometimes there are insults for other things. Racism is a very serious matter and shouldn’t be confused”) have “roused some perplexity”, but “they are statements made at the end of the game, if he thought about it for a moment, even Gasperini would probably correct something”.