AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has insisted that Kevin Constant should not have left the pitch during the club's friendly match against Sassuolo on Tuesday, despite suffering racist abuse from the stands.
In a stance backed by the club, Galliani said that while such chanting cannot be condoned, Constant should have taken up the issue with the referee first.
"The racist chants are unspeakable and outrageous, but he shouldn't have left the pitch," Galliani told Sky Sport Italia.
"Although it was terrible behaviour by the crowd, the rules are for the player to go to the referee. He then goes to the fourth official, who alerts the police officers. The game is then suspended. You cannot leave the pitch."
A statement from Milan said: "This was not a decision [Constant] should have taken upon himself to make. And, despite his more than understandable reasons and the anger he must have felt, AC Milan would like to remind everyone that the only people responsible for intervening against any manifestations that offend the human dignity, which includes racial discrimination, are the referee in charge of the match and the head of public safety."
FIFA said that Constant's decision was understandable, but stressed that walking off the pitch is not a long-term solution to the problem.
Matt Domm
