Alberto Felice De Toni, Udine’s mayor, personally suggested the idea of bestowing honorary citizenship upon Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan after he endured racial abuse from some Udinese fans. The 28-year-old French player and his Rossoneri teammates walked off the field during their match against the Bianconeri on Saturday, following racist incidents directed at Maignan from fans behind his goal.
The incident received widespread condemnation in the global football community, prompting Maignan to write a personal letter urging the entire system to take responsibility in the fight against racism in football. Udine Mayor De Toni, addressing the issue on his Instagram page, invited Maignan to return to Udine to engage in meaningful initiatives with young people, supported by the Milan Foundation. De Toni also proposed the idea of granting Maignan honorary citizenship during this visit.
Emphasizing Udine as an inclusive city with a history of hospitality, Mayor De Toni expressed deep concern over the incident, disassociating the city and its fans from the actions of a few individuals. He called for the values of Udine, rooted in solidarity and mutual respect, to prevail over any isolated act of racism. De Toni envisioned Maignan’s return to Udine as an opportunity to convey a powerful message to younger generations about inclusion, respect, and the importance of positive social relationships.
Highlighting the multicultural composition of Udine’s population, De Toni pledged to propose to the city council that Maignan be granted honorary citizenship, reaffirming the city’s commitment to rejecting discrimination. The mayor emphasized football’s role in combating racism, asserting that there should be no distinctions on or off the field. Udine, known for its fair-minded public and a stadium hosting numerous international matches, has a history of multiculturalism and inclusivity, echoed by the Udinese Calcio club. De Toni concluded by expressing solidarity with Maignan, acknowledging Milan’s support on and off the pitch, and announcing the club’s decision to observe social media silence in response to the racist abuse.
Mike Maignan
This season he played in total 18 times for 1620 minutes for Serie A.
He made 53 saves and conceded 20 goals. He received 1 yellow card and 1 red card.
His team is currently 3rd in Serie A. In the last match Milan won 3-2 against Udinese. The next match in Serie A will be against Bologna.
Milan performance and stats
Milan is currently 3rd in the Serie A with 45 points.
In the last 21 games, it has won 14 times, drawn 3 times, and lost 4 times. In its last match, Milan won 2-3 against Udinese.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 41 goals and conceding 23.
Milan will play the next match in Serie A against Bologna on Saturday 27th of January in Milano.