Milan game suspended as keeper Mike Maignan walks off over racist abuse

The Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and his teammates walked off the pitch during the first half of the Serie A match at Udinese on Saturday evening.

The 28-year-old France international left the action shortly after his team had taken the lead, apparently indicating to the referee Fabio Maresca he had heard racist abuse from the crowd at the Stadio Friuli.

Maignan was followed by the other Milan players but they returned to the pitch soon after and play was able to resume around seven minutes after Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s goal had broken the deadlock.

Maignan was beaten three minutes later by a Lazar Samardzic shot and the teams went in at half-time level at 1-1 after six minutes of stoppage time.

Florian Thauvin then put Udinese in front in the 62nd minute but Milan managed to snatch victory when substitute Luka Jovic netted on a rebound in the 83rd minute – and Noah Okafor made it 3-2 in stoppage time from close range.

Milan are third in the table on 45 points from 21 games, six behind leaders Internazionale and four adrift of second-placed Juventus, who both have a game in hand. Udinese are 17th with 18 points.