Blatter battles back against Boateng and AC Milan walk-off in face of racial abuse

Were AC Milan right to walk off the pitch in protest against racial abuse that was coming the way of Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng? The incident happened with AC Milan taking on fellow Italian side Pro Patria in a friendly during the week. With Pro Patria supporters firing abuse towards the AC Milan star, it was Milan’s Kevin-Prince Boateng who picked the ball up halfway through the first half of the game and kicked it into the crowd, sparking a walk off from his side. After taking off his jersey and walking towards the dressing rooms, he was supported in his actions by not only his fellow AC Milan players but the Pro Patria side and officials at the game as well.

While some players have come out in support of the move initiated by Kevin-Prince Boateng, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticised the walk off, saying that walk-offs are not the answer to abuse. The abuse had gotten so bad at the game that announcements had been made over the public address system, pleading for the crowd to stop. As Boateng walked off he applauded the fact that some of the crowd had reacted angrily against the sections from where the abuse was originating. AC Milan, with other black players in their side coming under abuse, had no intent of restarting the game under protest of the situation.

Sepp Blatter was unhappy about the fact that it was the players who had taken things into their own hands at the match. The governing bodies of football across the world, take the harder line that it should be down to the powers of the referee whether or not to take the players from the pitch and to appeal for behavior from the fans. It is not the players who should be holding power over the officials by just initiating walk offs. Blatter’s stance is one that assumes absolute power by the match officials. But what if the officials fail to do anything, sometimes in impossible situations?

There are echoes of this from back in Euro 2012 when UEFA President Michel Platini warned any player who walked off the pitch during the tournament as a result of receiving racial abuse, would receive a booking. With the Italian Football Federation looking into the matter with an inquiry, questions will continue to be asked whether Kevin-Prince Boateng’s reaction was correct or not, was he right to call the shots to call off the game? Why should have to tolerate abuse? Was that too strong of reaction from the AC Milan player, with Blatter almost accusing the players in the match of running away from the problems.

Blatter wants to put into place tougher sanctions for acts of racial abuse, making clubs accountable for their fans by issuing points reductions. But was it case of intolerance being shown an act of defiance by Boateng? Without the players there will be no game and what stronger of a message can a player send than not giving the fans what they want?

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri thinks so, saying “Milan play for the right to respect all players. We need to stop these uncivilised gestures.

“We are sorry for all the other fans who came here for a beautiful day of sport. We promise to return, and we are sorry for the club and players of Pro Patria, but we could not make any other decision.

“I hope it can be an important signal.”