Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Samuel Umtiti leaves pitch in tears after being racially abused by Lazio fans

mirror.co.uk, 4 January 2023, 22:42
Samuel Umtiti, who is on loan at Serie A club Lecce from Barcelona this season, left the pitch in tears after being racially abused by travelling Lazio supporters Samuel Umtiti was visibly emotional after being racially abused by Lazio fans

Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti left the pitch in tears after being subjected to horrific racist abuse from fans of Lazio.

Lecce came from behind to secure an impressive comeback victory over the Champions League chasing side, who took the lead through Ciro Immobile's early strike before goals from Gabriel Strefezza and Lorenzo Colombo turned the game on its head.

However, the match was overshadowed by a section of Lazio's travelling support racially abusing Lecce players including Umtiti - who joined the Italian club from Barcelona last summer but has endured a few tough years as a footballer after helping France to their World Cup triumph in 2018.

Umtiti and his teammate Lameck Banda, a Zambian international forward, were targeted with racist chanting from Lazio supporters during the encounter. Umtiti left the pitch at the end of the game in tears, as fans of Lecce chanted his name.

After the match, his club tweeted with the message: "Racist chants have been overwhelmed by songs of encouragement! All the yellow and red Lecce fans started shouting one name: Umtiti."

The match was stopped by the referee for several minutes as the stadium announcer intervened, acknowledging the chanting from the away fans and demanding that it ceased. That resulted in the home fans chanting Umtiti's name and Lecce president Saverio Sticchi Damiani claimed that the defender asked for the game to eventually resume.

Sticchi Damiani embraced Umtiti at the end of the game, and explained: "I hugged Samuel, as I do with all his teammates. After each match, regardless of the result, I want to greet the boys and the staff.

"When the referee stopped the game, waiting for the announcer to call for an end to the racist chants, Umtiti asked for the game to resume because he wanted to respond to the insults he received on the pitch. He reacted like a true champion."

Sticchi Damiani also praised his club's fans for their support of Umtiti but criticised the officials for not stopping the game earlier after his teammate Banda was subjected to racist taunts from the travelling supporters.

Umtiti moved to Lecce on loan for the 2022-23 season from Barcelona - with Wednesday's clash against Lazio just his sixth Serie A appearance of the campaign to date.

Top News

16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have reportedly moved into pole position to sign Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho, with the Old Lady cooling their interest in his teammate Mason Greenwood. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly have to come up with an offer of €50m (£42m) if they wish to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France have received another timely injury boost before the start of their Euro 2024 campaign, as one of their fundamental cogs has returned to full training following injury. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Austrian youngster Oghenetejiri Adejenughure to discuss a move to Old Trafford this summer. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich marksman Harry Kane is poised to break a handful of England records when the Three Lions tackle Serbia in Sunday's Euro 2024 Group C opener at the Veltins-Arena. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Even before its first weekend of action is complete, the 17th European Championship has delivered a dizzying array of new bests and curious firsts. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has drawn level with Cristiano Ronaldo on a record-breaking number of Euros appearances, but he may only stand alongside his Portuguese foe for a matter of days. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mere weeks after a gruelling domestic season concluded for the continent's most celebrated talents, 24 teams and over 600 players are now going again with Euro 2024 supremacy at stake. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria vs. Internacional (Sunday, 8.00pm) Looking to secure their maiden win of the 2024 Brasileiro campaign at the ninth attempt, bottom side Vitoria will welcome Internacional to Estadio Manoel Barradas on Sunday afternoon. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ecuador vs. Honduras (Sunday, 8.30pm) Playing their final warm-up fixture ahead of the Copa America, Ecuador meet Honduras in Connecticut on Sunday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Poland vs. Netherlands (Sunday, 2.00pm) Getting Group D under way at Euro 2024, Poland and the Netherlands meet at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion on Sunday. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has reportedly given the thumbs-up to the Reds making a move for a highly-rated Eredivisie attacker in the summer transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly laid out their financial demands to let struggling attacker Emile Smith Rowe leave the club this summer. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Arsenal's home-grown talents has reportedly informed the Gunners that he wants to assess his options for a transfer elsewhere in the summer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk European Championship holders Italy bounced back from an early setback to record a 2-1 victory over Albania in their Euro 2024 opener on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nedim Bajrami has broken a European Championship record after scoring in Albania's 2-1 defeat to Italy in their opening Euro 2024 Group B clash at Westfalenstadion on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia captain Luka Modric has said that his side must move on quickly from their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Spain in their opening match at Euro 2024. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain captain Alvaro Morata is confident that he will be available for his country's second match at Euro 2024 after suffering an injury scare against Croatia on Saturday evening. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lamine Yamal said that he was "thrilled" to play a key role in Spain's 3-0 success over Croatia, with La Roja making an impressive start to their Euro 2024 campaign. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has said that his side must remain focused after opening their European Championship campaign with an impressive win over Croatia. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing two players from Serie A during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly identified a replacement for Erling Haaland should the prolific attacker leave the club in the near future. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored the goals as Spain opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Croatia in Berlin on Saturday evening. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic has reportedly attracted interest from Turkish side Galatasaray ahead of this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the appointment of Fabian Hurzeler as their new head coach. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Premier League is widely regarded as the best division in world football that has been blessed with a plethora of talent players and successful managers. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Poland will be looking to end a 45-year streak when they square off against Netherlands on Sunday afternoon. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have reportedly been in discussions with Chelsea over a potential deal for Ian Maatsen during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lamine Yamal has become the youngest-ever player to feature in the finals of a European Championship at the age of 16 years and 338 days old.