MILAN – A black player for Italy’s most popular soccer club won support from other European players Wednesday, a day after he was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse from an opposing team’s fans.
Juventus forward Moise Kean scored his team’s second goal against Cagliari late in the 2-0 victory Tuesday and stood in front of the home fans with his arms outstretched. That seemed to trigger a furious and openly racist outcry from the fans.
One of his teammates, Leonardo Bonucci, added fuel to the fire by saying Kean was partly to blame for the angry response. That prompted players on other teams to rush to Kean’s defense.
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling, who is black, ridiculed the remark: “Leonardo Bonucci … All you can do now is laugh.” He also posted a screenshot on Twitter.
“I support every fight against racism, we’re all equal,” Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba wrote in an Instagram post of Kean celebrating his goal. The Frenchman, who used to play for Juventus, then added, in Italian: “Good Italians wake up, you can’t let a small group of racists talk for you.”
Kean, a 19-year-old Italian whose parents are from Ivory Coast, was insulted by home fans during much of Tuesday’s game in Cagliari. He received a yellow card for faking an injury in the first half.
His goal and ensuing celebration seemed to push the home fans over the edge.
Cagliari captain Luca Ceppitelli tried to protect Kean, rushing to his side and pleading with the fans to stop. Instead, Ceppitelli was almost hit on the head by a bottle thrown from the stands.
In his comments partially blaming Kean, Bonucci said: “There were racist boos after Kean’s celebration and (Blaise) Matuidi got angry but I think the blame is 50-50.”
He added: “Kean made a mistake and the fans made a mistake.”
Matuidi, who is also black and won the World Cup with France last year, was subjected to racist abuse in Cagliari last year.
Kean hasn’t spoken publicly about the incident, but posted a photo of his goal celebration on Instagram.
“The best way to respond to racism,” Kean wrote, “#notoracism.”