Udinese F.C. to Play Behind Closed Doors Following Racist Insults Against Maignan

The Udinese will have to play a match behind closed doors. The sports judge made this decision after the racist insults against Maignan on Saturday night 'due to the manifestations of racial discrimination that occurred on several occasions, during the match, against the Milan player and which led to the announcement of n.2 loudspeaker announcements, as well as a first interruption of the game for about a minute, then a suspension of the match for about 5 minutes'. The statement also emphasizes 'the objective gravity of the facts described and reported'.

Udinese will decide whether to appeal

Udinese has decided not to comment on the sentence of the Serie A sports judge but reserves the right to evaluate, in the next few hours, whether to appeal. According to Ansa, the Friulian club is convinced that it has taken all necessary measures to send a strong signal, banning the already identified author of the racist expressions from the Bluenergy Stadium for life. The company's lawyers will evaluate the sports judge's device before making any decision together with the Pozzo family. The match to be played behind closed doors is the one with Monza on Saturday, February 3 at 15.

Udinese, stand closed for one round

Here is the official statement:

'The Sports Judge, having seen the referee's report, as well as the report of the Federal Prosecutor's collaborators, in relation to the manifestations of racial discrimination that occurred on several occasions, during the match, against the player of the Soc. Milan Maignan Mike Peterson, and which led to the announcement of n. 2 loudspeaker announcements, as well as a first interruption of the game for about 1 minute, then a suspension of the match for about 5 minutes;

Given the objective gravity of the facts described and reported, which led to the adoption of the measures provided for by the specific procedural protocol contained in the federal rules; gravity that, on the one hand, makes the element of dimension recessive, on the other hand, confirms and does not deny the further element, also provided for and required by art. 28, paragraph 4, CGS, of real perception (seen, in this case, the legitimate reaction of the player concerned and the consequences on the regular conduct of the match, interrupted twice);

Noted, moreover, that there were not reported, during and after the facts, and despite the 2 public announcements, clear manifestations of dissociation from such intolerable behaviors by the remaining supporters (an element that would have been relevant in a mitigating sense, and even exonerating in the presence of the other assumptions, pursuant to art. 29, paragraph 1, lett. e CGS);

Noted, however, that the active behavior of the Udinese Society, and the availability shown from the start to collaborate in the identification of those responsible, make it possible for an event of this magnitude and gravity to apply the minimum sanction provided for by art. 28, paragraph 4, CGS, or the obligation to play a match behind closed doors (art. 8, paragraph 1, lett. e CGS) P.Q.M. decides to sanction the Soc. UDINESE with the obligation to play a match behind closed doors'.