Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, the 20-year-old Nigerian international, was subjected to racial abuse during his club Sampdoria’s match against Brescia.
The midfielder was targeted by Brescia fans, prompting a brief halt in the game. Akinsanmiro reported the incident to the referee 20 minutes into the match, as reported by Italian news outlet Tendenze Di Viaggio.
According to the report, Akinsanmiro approached referee Massa, informing him of the racist chants coming from the Curva Nord section of the stadium.
In response, the referee paused the game and instructed the stadium announcer to address the crowd, warning that any further discriminatory behavior could lead to the suspension of the match.
Following the incident, Akinsanmiro was shown a yellow card for reacting to the abuse.
Sampdoria had just taken the lead through Massimo Coda’s goal, and the Nigerian midfielder was later substituted before halftime after appearing visibly shaken.
