Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic received a yellow card on Sunday following a goal he scored against Atalanta, as he reacted to apparent discriminatory taunts coming from the audience.
Discrimination in Serie A: A Continuing Issue
The 2022-23 season for Serie A has been marked with controversy, as incidents of discrimination persist throughout the league. Dusan Vlahovic, a Serbian international, is the most recent player to allegedly face derogatory comments from certain individuals during Juventus’ match against Atalanta in Bergamo. The 23-year-old forward appeared distressed as he heard slurs like “gypsy sh*t” from the stands.
Despite the hurtful remarks, Vlahovic found solace in scoring an impressive stoppage-time goal, securing a 2-0 victory for Juventus. However, his passionate celebration led to a yellow card, and he was cautioned for his angry response towards the home crowd. Vlahovic reportedly asked the match officials if they had heard the taunts, but the caution remained in place.
Atalanta Coach Addresses Racist Chants
Following the game, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini attempted to downplay the alleged racist chants. He acknowledged that racism should be condemned but also pointed out that players like Mario Pasalic and Josip Ilicic, who share the same ethnicity as Vlahovic, play for Atalanta. Gasperini went on to emphasize the need to distinguish between racism and other forms of insult, acknowledging that rudeness should also be eradicated and fought against. He shared his own experiences with disrespectful behavior while coaching from the bench.
A History of Racial Incidents in Italian Football
This incident is not the first time a player has faced racist abuse in Italian football. In April, Inter striker Romelu Lukaku experienced racial slurs during a Coppa Italia semi-final match against Juventus in Turin. Lukaku was shown a second yellow card for his celebration after scoring a stoppage-time penalty, but his subsequent ban was eventually lifted despite an initial appeal being denied. The ongoing incidents of discrimination in Serie A highlight the need for continued efforts to tackle racism in football.