FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called for worldwide stadium bans for fans and "automatic forfeits" for teams whose supporters engage in "abhorrent" abuse, following racist incidents in Italy and England. He emphasized that there is no place for discrimination of any kind in the sport or wider society.

The events that occurred in Udine and Sheffield on Saturday were described by Infantino as "totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable." Fans directed monkey chants at AC Milan and France goalkeeper Mike Maignan during Milan's 3-2 win at Udinese, leading to a temporary halt in the game.

In response, the France team and captain Kylian Mbappe expressed their support for Maignan, condemning all racist acts. Meanwhile, Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer accused Sheffield Wednesday fans of similar behavior during their English Championship clash.

Infantino stressed the need for action, starting with education in schools to ensure that future generations understand that racism has no place in football or society. He proposed implementing an automatic forfeit for teams whose fans commit racism, as well as worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for offenders.

Referee Fabio Maresca stopped play during the first half at Udinese, and Maignan expressed his dismay at the situation, stating that such behavior has no place in football. The match resumed after a brief pause.

Italy, known for its far-right football fan groups, has faced similar issues, with Lazio recently being penalized for racist chants directed at Romelu Lukaku. In Sheffield, both clubs condemned the racist gesture reported by Palmer, emphasizing that there is no place for such behavior in football or society.

Infantino and football as a whole stand in full solidarity with the victims of racism and discrimination, reiterating a firm stance against all forms of discrimination.

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