AC Milan walked off the pitch during a friendly match at Pro Patria today in protest at racist chanting by the home fans. The game was abandoned after less than half an hour.
"Milan left the pitch following racist insults on the part of a minority of the Pro Patria fans directed at (Kevin-Prince) Boateng, (M'Baye Niang, (Urby) Emanuelson and (Sulley) Muntari," the club said on their website (www.acmilan.it).
A video posted on Youtube showed Boateng in possession near the penalty area when jeering was heard from fans nearby.
He stopped playing, collected the ball and kicked it towards the stands. He then took his shirt off and walked off the pitch and his team mates followed.
"I'm disappointed and saddened but I think that it was the right choice to not return to the pitch, out of respect to our players and all other coloured players in any other league," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri explained.
"We have to stop these uncivilised gestures. Italy has to become a little more civilised and a little more intelligent."
"It's unfortunate because of the families and children who had come here to enjoy the beautiful day of sport and sun.
"We hope we have given a signal that will be followed if such acts occur again in any league. We apologise but we hope that these uncivilised acts will not happen again."
Based in the town of Busto Arsizio, Pro Patria play in the fourth tier of Italian football.
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