January 5 (Reuters) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has urged followers to “shut up all racists” after Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti and teammate Lameck Banda have been subjected to racial abuse throughout their residence recreation with Lazio on Wednesday.

The Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the match was paused for a couple of minutes whereas an announcement was made calling for the chants to be stopped within the stadium.

House followers chanted Umtiti’s identify to quell the harassment, and Lecce President Saverio Sticchi Damiani stated the French World Cup winner, on mortgage from Barcelona, ​​wished the match to proceed.

Lecce got here from behind and received the Serie A match 2-1, whereas Frenchman Umtiti left the sector in tears.

“Chores of encouragement for our champion stifled racial slurs,” Lecce stated in a press release.

Umtiti posted a message on Instagram saying “Solely soccer, enjoyable, pleasure. The remaining does not matter.”

Infantino confirmed his help for Umtiti and Zambia Banda with a social media publish.

“Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda – let’s shout loudly and clearly: No to racism,” he wrote on the pictures of Umtiti and Banda.

“Might the overwhelming majority of followers who’re good individuals stand as much as silence all racists as soon as and for all.”

(Reported in Bengaluru by Rohith Nair; edited by Peter Rutherford)

((Rohith.Nair@thomsonreuters.com;))

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