AC Milan have called for FIFA to take an official stand against racism in the sport as the controversy surrounding Kevin-Prince Boateng's walk-off continued. Boateng hit the headlines last week when he responded to racist chants by a small group of fans during a friendly against fourth division side Pro Patria by storming off the pitch.
He was followed by his teammates, prompting a global outpouring of applause for the German-born Ghanaian international's decision.
World football's ruling FIFA had yet to make an official statement about the incident but in an interview from the United Arab Emirates FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Boateng was "wrong" to have walked off the pitch.
Both FIFA and UEFA have previously warned against players walking off the pitch in protest, and Blatter told The National newspaper: "Walk off? No. I don't think that is the solution.
"I don't think you can run away. This issue is a very touchy subject, but I repeat there is zero tolerance of racism in the stadium; we have to go against that."
Milan reacted quickly, declaring: "AC Milan reiterates its firm stance against racism, in whatever shape or form, and calls on the national and international sports bodies to adopt and implement necessary and effective measures."
In the wake of the Boateng incident some observers, including former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf, had warned that the decision to leave the pitch threatened to "empower" a racist minority.
At Rome's Olympic stadium on Saturday Seedorf's fears rung true when some sections of Lazio's crowd were heard making monkey noises at Cagliari's Colombian striker Victor Ibarbo.
Although the majority of the home crowd jeered and whistled to drown out the racists, Cagliari's director general Francesco Marroccu was forced eventually to inform the fourth official. The referee halted play momentarily to speak to both team captains and order a message to be relayed over the loudspeaker to warn fans the game would be suspended if the chants continued.
Lazio went on to win 2-1, but this latest incident threatens to reinforce the Rome-based side's reputation for harbouring fans with far right sympathies.
He was followed by his teammates, prompting a global outpouring of applause for the German-born Ghanaian international's decision.
World football's ruling FIFA had yet to make an official statement about the incident but in an interview from the United Arab Emirates FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Boateng was "wrong" to have walked off the pitch.
Both FIFA and UEFA have previously warned against players walking off the pitch in protest, and Blatter told The National newspaper: "Walk off? No. I don't think that is the solution.
"I don't think you can run away. This issue is a very touchy subject, but I repeat there is zero tolerance of racism in the stadium; we have to go against that."
Milan reacted quickly, declaring: "AC Milan reiterates its firm stance against racism, in whatever shape or form, and calls on the national and international sports bodies to adopt and implement necessary and effective measures."
In the wake of the Boateng incident some observers, including former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf, had warned that the decision to leave the pitch threatened to "empower" a racist minority.
At Rome's Olympic stadium on Saturday Seedorf's fears rung true when some sections of Lazio's crowd were heard making monkey noises at Cagliari's Colombian striker Victor Ibarbo.
Although the majority of the home crowd jeered and whistled to drown out the racists, Cagliari's director general Francesco Marroccu was forced eventually to inform the fourth official. The referee halted play momentarily to speak to both team captains and order a message to be relayed over the loudspeaker to warn fans the game would be suspended if the chants continued.
Lazio went on to win 2-1, but this latest incident threatens to reinforce the Rome-based side's reputation for harbouring fans with far right sympathies.
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