Racism in soccer hit a new low over the weekend when black players from AC Milan’s Under-10 team say they were booed and heckled by other parents during a Universal Cup match.
The youngsters were playing their Paris Saint-Germain equivalents for a place in the semi-finals of the Tuscany tournament that features 48 international teams, including Chelsea, Ajax and Benfica.
It’s not clear which team the heckling parents were supporting, though event organizers insist that the remarks weren’t racist in nature but instead questioned whether the Milan players were over the age limit, La Stampa reports.
The organizers added an anti-racism video to their Facebook page Monday morning, followed by a statement Tuesday that their investigation found no evidence that racist or even vaguely discriminatory chants were uttered Sunday.
Sadly, racism in soccer is nothing new, and many talented stars, including former AC Milan players Mario Balotelli and Kevin-Prince Boateng, have been subject to abusive tirades.
On a happier note, the young team from AC Milan went on to defeat Inter Milan 4-0 in the final, winning the overall competition.
