AC Milan chief blasts ref for not stopping Lazio game after Bakayoko racially abused

AC MILAN have blasted the referee for failing to stop the game while Tiemoue Bakayoko was racially abused by Lazio fans.

Travelling supporters were heard making monkey noises and chanting “this banana is for Bakayoko” at the on-loan Chelsea midfielder during Wednesday’s Coppa Italia clash at the San Siro.

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Milan technical director Leonardo has heavily criticised referee Paolo Mazzoleni for not following protocol after a stadium address warned the game could be stopped when the players were being subjected to racial abuse.

But the sickening abuse continued and Mazzoleni allowed the game to continue.

He told : “There were a 1,000 reasons to suspend the game.

“With the new rules, it should’ve been stopped the first time the racist chants were heard.

EVERYONE HEARD

“The referee should’ve stopped the game, gathered the players to the centre of the field and made an announcement on the speaker.

"And if the racist chants continue, you permanently suspend the game.

“Instead, nothing was done about it. Everyone heard the racist chants.

“If it was announced two separate times telling the fans to stop, that means everyone heard the insults and racists chants.

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“Yet Mazzoleni kept going on like he was the only person to not hear those racist chants.

“Our team manager told the fourth official about the chants.

“The referee has the power and it’s up to him to decide. We were assured they would intervene if they heard those chants.”

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