CAGLIARI, Italy (AP) 鈥� Udinese forward Keinan Davis has accused Cagliari defender Alberto Dossena of calling him a 鈥渕onkey鈥� during Saturday鈥檚 Serie A match. Dossena denied any wrongdoing.
Towards the end of Udinese鈥檚 2-0 victory at Cagliari, Davis 鈥� who is Black 鈥� reacted angrily and alerted the referee to something said from the stands.
Tension then rose after the final whistle when Davis and Dossena had to be separated by teammates.
Davis posted a story on Instagram after the match, tagging Dossena and using a picture of the player with the comment: 鈥淭his racist coward called me a monkey today during the game. I hope the Serie A association will do something about this but we will see.鈥�
Dossena posted a statement on his own Instagram account about an hour later.
鈥淏eing accused of racism saddens and hurts me,鈥� Dossena wrote. 鈥淚t is a very serious accusation, it would never cross my mind to address another person, a colleague with an insult of that kind.
鈥淚t is the first time that such a situation has happened to me in which I have to defend myself from a defamatory accusation. Such behavior is the furthest thing from my culture and education.鈥�
Udinese also put out a statement but did not name Dossena.
鈥淯dinese Calcio expresses utmost solidarity and full support for Keinan Davis who was subjected to shameful racist insults by a player from the opposing team during this afternoon鈥檚 match,鈥� the statement said.
鈥淭he club reiterates its firm condemnation of such deplorable acts which seriously damage the image and values of the sport we love. Udinese will defend Keinan in every way and hopes for a rapid resolution of the incident by the sports justice bodies in which it has full confidence.鈥�
Cagliari teammates and coach Fabio Pisacane backed Dossena, saying they believed he had never made any racist remarks.
鈥淚鈥檝e known Alberto Dossena for years, I know what values he has, and it doesn鈥檛 even cross my mind that he might have said certain things,鈥� Pisacane said. 鈥淚 believe in the man and I鈥檓 sorry that all that commotion was created at the end of the match.
鈥淚 spoke to Alberto about the incident with Davis and I believe him, because I know him well. There was some pushing and shoving, things that happen on the field, and I completely trust my player.鈥�
Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile added: 鈥淲e spoke to Alberto, he assured us that he hadn鈥檛 said anything racist and we believe him. He is a family man, a man with important values.鈥�
However, Udinese鈥檚 Nicol貌 Zaniolo alleged that Dossena also insulted his family as well as being racist towards Davis.
鈥淭he colleague (if you can call him that) who today dared to insult my children and insult my teammate for the color of his skin, should be ashamed of himself and never again set foot on a football field,鈥� Zaniolo wrote in an Instagram story.
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