A Serie B match between Brescia and Sampdoria on Sunday evening was marred by another ugly incident after Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro was racially abused.
Akinsanmiro, who is on loan to Sampdoria from Inter Milan became the target of racist chants and monkey noises from a section of Brescia supporters at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti.
The racist abuse began almost immediately after kick-off, with audible ‘boos’ directed at Akinsanmiro throughout the early stages of the game.
The situation became so severe that the stadium announcer had to repeatedly call for the home fans to cease their behavior, warning that the match could be suspended if the racist chants continued.
The tension reached its peak around the 30-minute mark when Sampdoria took the lead through a goal by Coda.
Reacting to the opening goal the 21-year-old Nigerian, celebrated by mimicking a monkey gesture towards the offending section of the crowd.
This action led to his booking by the referee and further intensified the hostile atmosphere in the stadium.
As the match progressed, the situation on the field became increasingly heated, with several rough challenges directed at Akinsanmiro.
Sampdoria’s coach, Leonardo Semplici, made the decision to substitute the young player around the 40-minute mark to protect him from potential further incidents or disciplinary action.
As Akinsanmiro left the pitch, he sarcastically applauded towards the stands, a final act of defiance against the abuse he had endured.
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In the aftermath of the match, Brescia’s coach Pierpaolo Bisoli made controversial comments that have further fuelled the debate.
Bisoli claimed he “hadn’t heard anything” regarding the racist chants, despite the stadium announcer’s repeated interventions, and criticized Akinsanmiro’s reaction, stating, “You can’t provoke the public like that. Regardless, you must show respect.”
Sampdoria coach Semplici, in contrast, defended his player vigorously in his post-match comments, praising Akinsanmiro’s performance, describing him as the best player on the field before the incident.
He expressed regret over the situation and questioned Bisoli’s claim of not hearing the racist chants, pointing out that even the referee had previously addressed the issue.
In a show of solidarity, Sampdoria has since posted a supportive message on their official Instagram account, featuring a photo of Akinsanmiro with his fist raised, accompanied by the caption “With you.”
