Alleged racist remarks aimed at football players at two separate matches have sparked international outcry for the sport to “take action”.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Coventry City midfielder Kasey Palmer both paused their respective matches on Friday and complained to their referees after they were subject to alleged racist abuse.
Palmer, 27, was seen going to retrieve the ball from behind the goal during the closing stages of Coventry City’s 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, before sharply turning away and motioning towards referee Anthony Backhouse before pointing towards the crowd at Hillsborough.
He appeared to indicate that an individual had made a monkey gesture towards him. A bottle thrown from the stand also appeared to strike another Coventry player.
Image: Palmer pointed to the crowd as he told the referee about the alleged gesture. Pic: Sky Sports
Meanwhile, AC Milan players followed Maignan as he walked off the pitch at Udinese’s Bluenergy Stadium in Italy, after he alleged individuals in the crowd made monkey chants towards him.
The incidents have triggered outrage from across the sport, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who called what happened at both games “totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable”.
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The governing body boss called for the implementation of an “automatic forfeit” for any team whose fans have committed racism and caused a match to be abandoned “as well as worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for racists”.
He called on all relevant stakeholders to “take action” adding: “FIFA and football shows full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. Once and for all: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!”
Image: Palmer alleged individuals made monkey chants towards him. Pic: Sky Sports
After the match at Hillsborough, Palmer said in a statement on X: “Disappointed to even have to come on here & write this. Racism is a disgrace… it has no place in the world, let alone football.
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“I’m black and proud, and I am raising my three kids to be the exact same. I’ll be honest, it feels like things will never change, no matter how hard we try.
“Couple fans doing monkey chants don’t define a fan base – I appreciate all the love and support I’ve received”.
Coventry manager Mark Robins said it was part of the game for supporters to “have a go” at managers, coaches or players, but racism “oversteps”.
“Nobody should have to deal with that, nobody in society. There is no place in society for it. I’m hoping they have a clear picture of what has gone on and they deal with it properly, because that is just out of order,” he said.
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Later, in a joint statement, both Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday said they were “shocked and saddened by the racist gesture” and “roundly condemn any form of discrimination and abuse”.
They said they were working with “relevant authorities” and “expect action to be taken against any supporter identified”.
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Following the game in Italy, AC Milan said in a post on X that “there is absolutely no place in our game for racism”.
Image: AC Milan’s Mike Maignan walks back onto the pitch after the match was stopped
“We are appalled. We are with you, Mike,” the club said, while the Serie A League said it “condemns all forms of racism”.
Fierce rivals Inter Milan also showed solidarity, posting on X: “We are brothers of the world, against all forms of discrimination. By your side @mmseize.”
Image: Mbappe posted on X in support. Pic: X
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe and England’s Ian Wright later supported Maignan with the former writing: “You are very far from being alone Mike Maignan. We are all with you. Still the same problems and still NO solution. Enough is enough !!!!!!!!!!!! NO TO RACISM.”
Former Arsenal forward Wright added: “Solidarity from the rest of the team. Keep walking off!! We did ‘playing through it’ and nothing has changed. Points deductions needed, the fines are pointless.”
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During the match at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Maignan 28, was seen remonstrating with referee Fabio Maresca before taking off his gloves and walking off. As he walked down the tunnel leading off the pitch, he was followed by his teammates.
He had also told the referee about alleged monkey chants earlier in the match, prompting an announcement in the stadium asking fans to stop.
A man has died after suffering cardiac arrest onboard a boat attempting to reach the UK.
The vessel turned back towards Equihen beach on the French coast yesterday morning.
A nurse tried to resuscitate the man but was unsuccessful.
Image: Pic: PA
French authorities have now launched an investigation into the circumstances.
A spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, has criticised authorities on both sides of the Channel.
Jacob Burns said: “Yet again we have a tragedy in the Channel, that is the consequence of the deadly, costly and ineffective security policies implemented by the UK and France.”
Image: Pic: PA
Later on Saturday, a lifeboat carried migrants who have made the voyage into the Port of Dover.
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Photographs showed them huddled under blankets and orange life jackets on board.
“The opportunity of tomorrow and what’s on offer is the best thing in football,” the England captain said. “I think we don’t necessarily carry the weight of it and how much it means to people, but we’re aware of it because it means the same to us.”
So often they were only watching other nations making finals.
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England’s first was the men winning the 1966 World Cup.
Image: England manager Sarina Wiegman reacts to defeat against Spain at the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. Pic: Reuters
Image: Lauren James looks dejected after their World Cup defeat, but is confirmed fit for Sunday’s revenge match against Spain. Pic: Reuters
Now, in Basel, comes the chance for revenge against Spain – even though no one in the England camp is saying that, publicly at least, in Switzerland.
Especially knowing how challenging a task it is coming up again against Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putella – the recent winners of football’s biggest individual honours.
Image: England fans celebrating after England beat Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters
Image: Given England’s history against Spain, it could be a nerve-wracking time for England fans. File pic: Action Images/Reuters
But this is Spain’s first Euros final.
And there is some fear from the world champions at England’s grit and resolve to produce comebacks late in the quarter-finals and semi-finals – with 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang’s goals integral to the fightbacks.
Image: England celebrate their semi-final win against Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters
Image: Michelle Agyemang has propelled England to the Euro 2025 final with two vital goals. Pic: AP
Spain captain Irene Paredes reflected yesterday on how the Lionesses can flip a result late on.
But she was also discussing how their World Cup win was tarnished by the on-pitch kiss that led to former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales being convicted of a sexual assault on striker Jenni Hermoso.
It sparked a wider clamour in Spain for improved rights and respect for women.
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Spain’s players struggle for respect
“Since then [2023] we took big steps forward,” Paredes said.
“I think this idea is disappearing from society. I still believe we have to continue opening doors… we’re a reference for boys and girls in society, but we still have things to do.”
It is a reminder that while tonight is about collecting silverware, both England and Spain know that emerging as champions can drive further growth in women’s football back home.
Amid it all, they’ll try to savour just what reaching a final means and how rare they are – until recently for English and Spanish women.
A woman who thought she was being injected with Botox was left unable to swallow and doctors thought she had suffered a stroke – after she contracted a life-threatening illness from a potentially illegal product.
Nicola Fairley is one of dozens of people who have developed botulism linked to unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections.
She had the procedure done with her regular beautician after winning a Facebook competition for three areas of “Botox”.
Image: Nicola Fairley
“Within two or three hours my forehead and the sides of my eyes had started to freeze,” Nicola says.
“At first I thought ‘amazing’, that’s what I wanted – then it just carried on.”
Nicola was eventually sent to A&E in Durham, where she met several other patients who all had similar symptoms.
Doctors were stumped. “They thought I’d had a stroke,” she says.
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“We all had problems with our eyes, some of us with our breathing. I couldn’t swallow – they put me on nil by mouth because they were worried I would choke in the waiting room.”
Image: Doctors were worried Nicola could choke after she was injected with a suspected illegal product
It turns out all of the patients had recently had anti-wrinkle injections containing botulinum toxin.
Health officials believe they were imported, illegal products.
Botulism – the disease they caused – is so rare many doctors never see it in their entire careers.
It can cause symptoms including slurred speech and breathing problems, and can be deadly.
The disease is so unusual, and so many cases were coming in, that doctors exhausted their stocks of anti-toxin and had to ask hospitals as far away as London to get more.
The UK Health Security Agency has so far confirmed 38 cases of botulism linked to cosmetic toxin injections, but Sky News has been told of several more.
The outbreak began in the North East but cases have now been seen in the East of England and East Midlands as well.
There are only a handful of legal botulinum toxin products in the UK – of which Botox is one.
But cosmetic treatments are largely unregulated, with anyone allowed to inject products like fillers and toxins without any medical training.
Cheap, illegal products imported from overseas are easily available.
Image: Dr Steven Land
‘It’s the Wild West’
Dr Steven Land runs Novellus Aesthetics clinic in Newcastle upon Tyne. He worked for decades as an emergency medicine doctor before moving into aesthetics.
He says he has been warning health officials of an outbreak for years.
“It’s the Wild West,” Dr Land told Sky News.
“Because anyone can do this, there is a lack of knowledge around what is legal, what’s not legal, what is okay to be injected.
“These illegal toxins could have 50 units, 5,000 units or rat poison – there could be anything in there.”