Allegri: Racists should be identified and banned for life

Juventus controlled the game and easily disposed of Cagliari 2-0, but the win was overshadowed by the latest incident of racism to strike the Italian game.

Juve already led from a Leonardo Bonucci goal when Moise Kean scored late to settle the game. The teenager then celebrated by holding his arms out aloft, a stance that even further provoked the home crowd that had jeered him following a yellow card for simulation earlier in the game. The Sardinian supporters then started hurling racist chants at the youngster, with a livid Blaise Matuidi standing up in support of the striker.

Speaking after the game, manager Massimiliano Allegri was asked about Kean -

“He scored another goal and did better in the second half, whereas he got more or less everything wrong in the first half.

“I didn’t hear anything from the stands, as I was focused on the game. You need great intelligence to deal with these situations and should not go to provoke people. That, of course, does not mean the idiots in the crowd and the way they reacted should be justified.

“As always in life, there are idiots who do stupid things and ruin it for everyone else. I don’t think talking about it all the time helps. I don’t think halting play helps, because not everyone in the stadium did that.

“We need to use the cameras, find those who are doing it and punish them. It’s very simple, identify them and not one-year ban or two, just give them a lifetime ban. We’ve got the technology, it can be done if the authorities want to. The problem is, they don’t really want to.”

Allegri was satisfied with the performance from his injury-decimated squad.

“It was a solid performance, we showed great technique and didn’t allow Cagliari any chances, which is rare as they are so strong on home turf.

“I knew we needed a more aggressive approach than the one we showed against Udinese and Empoli.”

Strangely, even Bonucci sided with Allegri in chiding Kean for enraging the ultras in the crowd.

“Kean knows that when he scores a goal, he has to focus on celebrating with his teammates. He knows he could’ve done something differently too.

“There were racist jeers after the goal, Blaise heard it and was angered. I think the blame is 50-50, because Moise shouldn’t have done that and the Curva should not have reacted that way.

“We are professionals, we have to set the example and not provoke anyone.”

Kean though is a young man full of confidence right now and will not be cowed by anyone. He commented after the win on Instagram with a picture of his arms wide open celebration “The best way to respond to racism #notoracism”.

Miralem Pjanic took the home side to task, saying that Matuidi had a right to be infuriated as this was the second consecutive year he had faced racist abuse here.

“They are disappointed, above all Blaise, as it’s the second year in a row this has happened to him here. I hope this can end. How it’ll end is down to those who have the power to make changes.

“It makes us sad and the lads are affected, because this has no place in football.”