Following racial taunts directed towards U.S Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti and his Zambian teammate Lameck Banda during their last night’s home match against Lazio in the Italian Serie A, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has urged fans “to stop all the racism.”
The game was halted for several minutes while a stadium announcement asking for a halt to the chants was made.
Lecce came from behind to win 2-1 with goals from Gabriel Strefezza in the 57th minute and Lorenzo Colombo in the 71st minute, which canceled Lazio’s 14th-minute goal by Ciro Immobile in a match that saw Frenchman Samuel Umtiti leave the pitch in tears after being racially abused.
Umtiti took to social media and posted a message on Instagram saying: “Only football, fun, joy. The rest doesn’t count.”
Lecce also issued a statement condemning the racial taunts.
“Racist insults were drowned out by choruses of encouragement towards our champion,” read the statement by Lecce.
Meanwhile, Infantino has also come out strongly condemning the act in a social media post which was accompanied by photos of Umtiti and Banda.
“Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda – let’s shout it loud and clear: No to racism,” he wrote.”May the huge majority of fans, who are good people, stand up to shut up all the racists once and for all.”
