Racism in Lazio: Umtiti and Banda abuses draw global condemnation

January 5 - Messages of support poured in, including from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, after France international Samuel Umtiti was racially abused by Lazio fans who once further tarnished the sport in Italy.

Umtiti left the pitch in tears to a standing ovation after his Lecce side came from behind to win 2-1 in a Serie A game on Wednesday night.

The victory was marred by appalling chants from the other side, where fans targeted Umtiti and Zambian international striker Lameck Banda in the latest case of racist abuse in Italian football by clubs linked to the extreme right in the country, with Lazio being one of the main culprits.

The abuse prompted a rare Instagram post from Infantino which read: "Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda - let's shout it loud and clear: NO TO RACISM! May the vast majority of fans, who are good people, stand up to silence all racists once and for all."

The referee stopped the game in the second half while the stadium announcer pleaded with the Lazio fans to refrain from singing.

Home fans chanted Umtiti's name to quell the abuse and Lecce president Saverio Sticchi Damiani said the French 2018 World Cup winner, on loan from Barcelona, ​​had asked for the game to be resumed . “He wanted to respond to insults on the pitch. He reacted like a true champion.”

Later, Umtiti posted a message on Instagram saying, "All football, fun, joy. The rest doesn't matter."

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