Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie was subjected to racist abuse during his team’s Serie A opener against Parma on Sunday night, the Italian club has confirmed.
The incident has reignited concerns about persistent racism in Italian football.
Juventus Condemns the Abuse
Following the 2-0 victory in Turin, Juventus posted a statement on social media confirming that McKennie, 26, was targeted by “discriminatory racist remarks by individuals in the away section” while he was warming down with teammates.
The club emphasized its zero-tolerance approach, stating: “Juventus strongly condemns this incident and any form of racism, and will ensure full cooperation with the sporting justice authorities to identify those responsible.”
McKennie’s Career Highlights
McKennie joined Juventus in 2020 and came on as a late substitute against Parma, a match where Canada forward Jonathan David made his Serie A debut.
The US international has earned 60 caps for the national team since 2017, scoring 11 goals and representing the United States at the 2022 World Cup.
Racism in Italian Football
Serie A has a long-standing issue with racist chanting and abuse from the stands.
In 2023, Fiorentina faced a suspended partial stadium ban after fans directed racist chants at McKennie and other Juventus players.
That same year, Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was sent off during a Coppa Italia semifinal after reacting to racial abuse, and AC Milan players briefly walked off the pitch when goalkeeper Mike Maignan was targeted by Udinese supporters.
European Soccer Faces Ongoing Racism Challenges
Sunday’s incident is the latest in a troubling pattern across European football.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently called two alleged incidents of racist abuse in the German Cup “unacceptable.”
These included Schalke’s Christopher Antwi Adjei being targeted at Lokomotive Leipzig and a Kaiserslautern substitute racially abused while warming up for RSV Eintracht.
In England, a man was arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield on August 16, highlighting that racist behavior remains a persistent problem across leagues.
Calls for Stronger Action
As McKennie and his teammates continue their season, clubs, governing bodies, and fans face mounting pressure to ensure that stadiums are safe spaces free from racism.
Juventus has pledged to cooperate fully with authorities, but the incident underscores how far European football still has to go to tackle discrimination effectively.
