Maignan

Photo by Fleur

On one hand, there are so many wonderful things about professional sports. On the other, there are many things wrong with them as well. One of the worst is the racism that still plagues so many sports such as World Soccer. Many of the clubs can trace their history back over one hundred year and the game has evolved into brilliant episodes of athleticism and grace. Like cerebral matches of chess across finely manicured fields of green grass. These teams have rabid followings. Fans have even resorted to violence in the name of supporting their clubs. But then hypocrisy and ignorance manifest themselves. Like that unwanted relative that continues to show up every year at the holidays. When will we learn? When will the world evolve enough to respect all people, everywhere? What is so comical is that on one hand we cheer players on when they help our teams win but throw racist slurs at them when their backs are turned. And that is another thing. These racists do not have the courage to confront people face to face. They will never have the strength of character to openly convey their views. It is done anonymously online or hidden within a group of people, like fans in a crowd, where their identities can be hidden. Cowards, each and every one of them. And are the others who harbor no such feelings but witness these events any better because of their silence? When will we find the strength to stand up for all humans?

Mike Maignan is a French Goalkeeper that plays for an Italian Club. This club, AC Milan is one of the oldest and most famous in Europe. Mike Maignan is a star, but he is also a Black man playing in a country that is not known for its racial integrity. In a game against Udinese, Maignan was suffering enough racial abuse that he walked off of the pitch in the first half causing the game to be temporarily suspended. I am so proud of Maignan for having the strength of character to do this. This type of abuse has gone on far too long. The clubs in the top leagues of Europe have gone through the motions pretending to care but do they really? Or are they saying one thing to their players to keep the money flowing? Maignan’s response to the incident at Udinese:

“It’s not the player who was attacked. It’s the man, it’s the father. It’s not the first time that it’s happened to me and I’m not the first person it’s happened to. We’ve had statements, publicity campaigns, protocols and nothing has changed. Today it’s a whole system that must take responsibility.”

Yes! And Maignan chose to use one of the few tools that modern players have to combat horrible instances such as racism. He walked off of the pitch. This is another example of what I have been saying all along. The players and the fans hold all of the power. People pay to see the games. Many times, a lot of money. And they want to see the best players in the game. Stop a game and fans get upset. I firmly believe that these instances will never be properly addressed unless the owners feel it in the pocket books. This problem should not just fall on the players. They need our help. Maignan feels that there is still not enough being done to combat racial abuse and I agree. If the powers that be wanted to change it, they could.

More from Maignan:

“The authorities and the prosecutor, with everything that’s happening, if you don’t act then you will also be complicit.” He went on to say that the ones who witnessed the racist incidents should have called out the perpetrators and the home team Udinese should have acted more firmly at the time. “The fans in the stands, who saw everything but decided to stay quiet, you are complicit. The club Udinese, who spoke only of interrupting the game, as if nothing had happened, you are complicit.

Maybe stopping some games will get true fans to speak up against those few who are ruining the world for the rest of us. One of the top players in the world and French National teammate, Kylian Mbappe’ wrote, “We are all with you. Always the same problems and still no solution. Enough is enough.”

Enough is enough  we hold the power and it is time we used it.

I first read about this incident on Score.