The French defender was the target of racist chants from Roma supporters on Wednesday afternoon.
Samuel Umtiti had good reason to be happy on Wednesday. His team, Lecce, which is fighting to stay in Serie A, overcame Lazio Rome (1-0) in the running for a place in the Champions League. A promising success for the end of the season which however did not completely delight the French defender, once again the victim of racist cries.
The international defender was the target of Lazio Rome supporters, well known for their repeated slip-ups in Italian stadiums. The Zambian striker from Lecce Lameck Banda was also targeted by the stupidity of these few hundred individuals.
On loan from Barcelona, Samuel Umtiti could not conceal his bitterness. At the end of the match, he even burst into tears before receiving the support of the president of Lecce who comforted him by hugging him. “When the referee stopped the game, waiting for the announcer to call for an end to the racist chanting, Umtiti asked that he resume, because he wanted to respond to the insults received on the pitch. He reacted like a true champion,” commented manager Saverio Sticchi Damiani.
The France team and Gianni Infantino with the support of Samuel Umtiti
The Italian club expressed its support in a tweet by denouncing the behavior of opposing supporters. “The racist cries were overwhelmed by those of encouragement. All the giallorosso people (yellow and red, the colors of Lecce, editor’s note) began to shout a single name, Samuel Umtiti”, wrote the club from southern Italy on its Twitter account, with the mention in English “let racism away” and photos of the French defender.
The France team also sent a message of comfort to the two targeted players on Wednesday, as did Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa on Instagram: “Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda – let’s shout loud and clear: NO TO RACISM! May the overwhelming majority of supporters, who are good people, rise up to silence all racists once and for all!»
