AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini has hit out at the club over their failure to condemn fans who chanted against him following his final match at the San Siro on Sunday.
The clash against AS Roma was supposed to be a celebration of the 40-year-old defender’s 24 years as a player for the club.
But firstly the visitors inflicted a 3-2 defeat on Maldini and his teammates and then a section of fans jeered him and unfurled derogatory banners criticizing him.
In yesterday’s Gazzetta dello Sport Maldini lashed out at club officials who had failed to back him over the incident.
“I’m disappointed with the club’s silence. I’m not happy that they didn’t take a stance,” he said. “There hasn’t even been one single statement, no official has spoken out ... I think a team like Milan should disassociate itself from certain incidents.”
LAP OF HONOR
Maldini played in his 901st game for Milan against Roma and after the match went on a lap of honor around the stadium.
But while the vast majority of fans applauded him, some chanted the name of former captain and Maldini predecessor Franco Baresi.
There were also banners unfurled criticizing Maldini over an incident in 2005 when the defender hit out at a section of fans who had jeered his team when they failed to hold onto a 3-0 lead against Liverpool in the Champions League final in Istanbul, eventually losing it on penalties.
And Maldini admitted his San Siro swansong left him bruised.
“I was hurt. 70,000 people cheered me, 500 wanted to ruin the party,” he said.
IGNOMINY
The party could turn even more sour if Milan lose their final match of the season — and the last of Maldini’s career — on Sunday at Fiorentina as they would risk missing out on a top three finish and would then face the ignominity of needing to negotiate two qualifying rounds to reach next season’s Champions League group stages.
Milan, however, were quick to respond with vice-president Adriano Galliani immediately publishing an open letter on the club’s Web site.
“I’ve read your interview and I understand your bitterness,” he said. “As you know I had to be escorted [by the police] two years ago due to the behavior of those same people who chanted against you.”
“I was the one who decided to stay silent, not just because I was advised to but mostly because I believed and still do that silence is the most efficient weapon to not giving any more publicity to the behavior of Sunday,” Galliani said.
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