IT HAD TO HAPPEN AND NOW IT HAS

MILAN'S BOATENG WALKS OFF A MATCH AFTER ABUSE FROM FANS

Kevin-Prince Boateng led his AC Milan team-mates off the pitch on Thursday after black players were subjected to racist abuse during a friendly at fourth division side Pro Patria.
The former Tottenham and Portsmouth forward kicked the ball into the crowd after 26 minutes of the goalless match in Busto Arsizio, 20 miles  north-west of Milan, then took off his shirt and marched off the field with the rest of his team.

The match was abandoned as Milan decided to send out a ‘strong signal’ after Boateng and three other black players — M’Baye Niang, Urby Emanuelson and former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari — were subjected to monkey chants from a section of the crowd, who continued their abuse despite being told to stop by the stadium announcer.
Milan director Umberto Gandini said he was ‘very proud’ of his players and captain Massimo Ambrosini told Gazzetta dello Sport: ‘We were annoyed from the beginning. We wanted to give a strong signal. We could not continue the game in an atmosphere like this.’
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose side were preparing for Sunday’s Serie A clash at Siena during the Italian winter break, added: ‘I hope that our actions will be followed if it were to happen in official games, from the amateur championships to Serie A.

We are disappointed and saddened by what has happened. 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.’

Ghana international Boateng, 25, later took to Twitter to say ‘Shame that these things still happen’, and his actions were applauded by the football fraternity and anti-racism campaigners.

Kick It Out were understood to be ‘encouraged’ by Boateng’s decision to leave the field and Piara Powar, executive director of European anti-discrimination group FARE, highlighted the supportive role played by the midfielder’s Milan team-mates.
Former Arsenal and Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira said last year that ‘Italy doesn’t want to fight racism’, but yesterday he applauded Boateng’s ‘brave’ stance.
Vieira wrote on Twitter: ‘It was brave of Kevin-Prince Boateng to do what he did today and it was the right thing. We need to stand up and stand together. Well done.