FIFA president wades into Italy's latest racism row after Juventus star abused

08 May 2023 , 12:51

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Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC celebrates a goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Juventus at Gewiss Stadium on May 7, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has stepped into Italian football’s latest racism row after the Atalanta coach claimed calling Serbian Dusan Vlahovic a “gypsy” was “bad manners”.

Italian Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi offered an apology to the Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic after he was abused by Atalanta fans. The chants and boos grew louder after the £66m striker scored at the Gewiss Stadium - and he was booked for a “provocative” goal celebration after putting his fingers to his lips.

Romelu Lukaku urged Italian football to take action after he was racially abused - and also sent off for a second yellow card for responding - during Inter Milan’s Coppa Italia draw at Juventus last month. Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini argued calling the Juventus star a “gypsy” was not racist.

He said: “At times, insults are due to other things. Racism is serious, it must not be confused with mere insults. If it was racism, they’d be insulting (Croatian Marco) Pasalic too.

“We must fight racism, but let us not confuse it with bad manners, which is a more general and wider issue.”

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But Infantino took to Instagram to respond: “Football has no form for racism or discrimination of any kind.

“It is absolutely unacceptable to see the racist abuse aimed by spectators at Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic during the Serie A match against Atalanta yesterday.

Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP (Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images))

“It is not an isolated incident and I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that strict sanctions are applied to address such incidents and to serve as a strong deterrent.

“FIFA stands with Dusan Vlahovic, just as we do with any other player, coach, match official, fan or participant in a football match who has suffered from racism or any other form of discrimination.”

Italian Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi tweeted: “Our apologies to Dusan Vlahovic!”

Neil McLeman