Serie A: AC Milan Pip Udinese 3-2 in Match Marred by Racist Chants Aimed at Mike Maignan

Third-place AC Milan won 3-2 at Udinese in a match that was suspended briefly during the first half for racist chants aimed at Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Maignan walked off the field after being subjected to racist chants by Udinese fans.

Shortly after Milan had scored to take a 1-0 lead and Milan was about to take a goal kick, Maignan signalled to his teammates to stop, walked to the referee and then to the sideline.

Teammates attempted to console Maignan on the sideline but then the France international took his gloves off and walked down the tunnel leading off the field.

Maignan, who is Black, had also told the referee about monkey chants earlier during the match, prompting an announcement in the stadium asking fans to stop.

The Serie A game resumed about five minutes after the suspension when Maignan and teammates came back out.

“I was upset to have to go into the changing room like that but I had everyone’s support,” Maignan said. “We talked and then we made the decision to go back out onto the field and make the appropriate response — to win this game.”

“I really didn’t want to play anymore. But we’re a family and I couldn’t leave my teammates like that.”

“There is absolutely no place in our game for racism: we are appalled, “ Milan said on X, formerly Twitter. “We are with you, Mike.”

Luke Jovic and Noah Okafor scored late as Milan came back from a goal down to secure the victory.

Jovic knocked in the rebound of a shot from Olivier Giroud that hit the crossbar in the 83rd and then Giroud headed down a corner toward Okafor for the winner in stoppage time.

Lazar Samardzic and Florian Thauvin had put Udinese ahead after an early Milan goal from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Milan moved within four points of second-place Juventus, which visits Lecce on Sunday.