Nigerian Midfielder Akinsanmiro Dances Against Racism in Italian League Match
Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, currently on loan at Sampdoria from Inter Milan, was subjected to racist abuse during a Serie B match against Brescia on January 12, 2025.
In response to monkey chants from sections of the Brescia fans, Akinsanmiro mimicked monkey gestures towards the crowd after his team scored, expressing his frustration with the discriminatory behavior.
The match officials issued Akinsanmiro a yellow card for his reaction, and Sampdoria’s coach subsequently substituted him to prevent further escalation. Inter Milan has expressed support for Akinsanmiro following the incident.
This incident highlights the persistent issue of racism in Italian football. In 2019, Serie A faced criticism for an anti-racism campaign that featured paintings of monkeys, which many perceived as inappropriate and counterproductive.
Efforts to combat racism in football continue, but incidents like these underscore the need for more effective measures to eradicate discrimination from the sport.