VERONA – At the end of Verona-Milanthe Rossoneri goalkeeper Mike Maignan discussed with thereferee Marinelli: he would have complained about some racist insults which would have come to him from the yellow-blue corner during the second and especially the final minutes, when Bentegodi began to make noise due to the Rossoneri's wasting time, including Maignan. There was no perception of it from the stands, but it is probable that the whistles were accompanied by some boos. After the speaker read the announcement inviting people to avoid displays of racism (that was also booed), the teams headed towards the locker rooms: it was Marinelli above all who received the fans' disapproval.
Maignan and the racists of Udine
Maignan was the victim of an episode of racism last year in Udine, when he reported to the referee the boos that were coming at him from the Friulian curve: that time he left the pitch and the match was interrupted for a few minutes. “At the first referral I heard people call me a monkey, but I didn't say anything”, reconstructed the goalkeeper. “Then they did it again and I asked the bench for help, I said that you can't play like that. It's not the first time it's happened, nor to me or to other players.”
