Serie A TIM/Racism: "Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda" (G. Infantino, FIFA)

"Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda - let's shout it loud and clear: No to racism! May the huge majority of fans, who are good people, stand up and shut up all the racists once and for all," said Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, on Instagram on 04/01/2023.

The FIFA president reacted to the racist shouting at two of US Lecce's (Serie A TIM) black players, Frenchman Samuel Umtiti and Zambian Lameck Banda, by SS Lazio fans (2-1) during Matchday 16 of the Italian championship at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del Mare (Lecce, ITA) on 04/01/2023 (2-1 victory for US Lecce). Shouts that forced the referee to stop the match for a few moments at the beginning of the second half.

"Only football, fun, joy. The rest doesn't count," said Samuel Umtiti on Instagram, in tears at the end of the match and given a standing ovation by the Lecce fans.

"SS Lazio once again condemns the perpetrators of this deplorable, shameful and anachronistic gesture"

• "SS Lazio has always countered all forms of racism and discrimination with all the means at its disposal, deploying initiatives…