Serie A - Maldini's bow soured by ultras

Eurosport - Sun, 24 May 19:01:00 2009

Paolo Maldini's final appearance at the San Siro was marred by Milan ultra fans unveiling a banner criticising their captain.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Milan-Roma Paolo Maldini Contestazione - 0

His day was already ruined by Milan losing 3-2 to Roma and they must now avoid defeat at Fiorentina in Sunday's final game of the campaign to secure a berth in next season's Champions League group stages.

The 40-year-old Maldini, who will bid farewell to soccer in Florence after a 24-year career, took a lap of honour around the stadium after the match but not all the Rossoneri fans cheered.

"Thank you captain. On the field you were a never-ending champion but you lacked respect for those who made you rich," read one huge banner, which referred to a falling out between fans and the player in 2005.

Some supporters then began a chant of "there's only one captain" when another banner displaying the name and number of Franco Baresi was unfurled.

Former Milan captain Baresi passed the armband on to Maldini when he retired.

One-club man Maldini, who will make his 902nd Milan appearance against Fiorentina, shrugged off the protests.

"I'm proud I'm not one of them," he said afterwards.

The rest of the Rossoneri fans waved special Maldini scarves while Roma players came back on the pitch at the end wearing T-shirts hailing the defender, who won a record 126 caps for Italy before quitting the international game in 2002.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said the banners had been "insignificant".

Milan owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, present at the stadium, was also jeered by home fans with uncertainty continuing over whether Ancelotti will stay at the club next season.

Ancelotti, strongly linked with Chelsea in the media, refused to discuss his future and said a Champions League group stage spot was the priority following their failure to qualify for this season's competition.

"There's no reason to talk about my future. There's still something to play for and we'll talk after the game in Florence," he said.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. There is only one word to describe this man - LEGEND!!!

    From strale90, on Mon 25 May 8:22PM

  2. I think he meant they are insignificant when compared­ to Maldini's contribution to both the club and­ world football over the past 20 odd years. Of course­ fans are exploited, of course players are disgustingly­ wealthy, but that's not a football specific problem­ - and certainly not a Maldini specific problem -­ that's the economic order of the world.

    From matthew, on Mon 25 May 3:07PM

  3. In today's football the fans are always the ones­ who are mistreated,when teams are winning they are­ rarely mentioned,they don't even thank them,BUT­ when things aren't going right managers,players­ "finally" remember the fans by­ saying:"We are sorry for the fans i know it­ hurts,..".'Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said­ the banners had
    been "insignificant"'the­ fans pay you millions and now they became­ "insignificant". This is just wrong and­ stupid.

    From 3.14, on Mon 25 May 1:20PM

  4. Back in 2005 Mourinho rightly hailed Maldini as the­ greatest defender in the world. Since then his­ standards dropped slightly, but that should not take­ anything away from a player I regard as one of the­ greatest of all time. No other player would have made a­ annual world XI on so many occasions (i.e. pretty much­ every year between 1989-2005). Congratulations Maldini,­ you deserve all the praise and none of the criticism­ that you receive.

    From matthew, on Mon 25 May 1:13PM

  5. They should be ashamed of themselves. Maldini was and­ is a legend in world football and anyone thats willing­ to spend his entire career at one club should be­ commended for his loyalty not ridiculed for a falling­ out with some fans!

    From MichealS, on Mon 25 May 12:53PM

  6. When will Fifa and the Italian government doe something­ about the Ultras Nazi thugs can run riot and you never­ hear about it in the UK press If 1 English fan pisses­ up a lamppost its on every fron page.

    Sort it out­ Platini .

    From BeachBabe, on Mon 25 May 11:49AM

  7. One of the greats. 5 Champions League medals and more­ honours than most players can ever hope to acheive.­ One-club players are something special

    From Simon, on Mon 25 May 10:23AM

  8. @funky : wtf?! Kompany, Silvestre, Henry and a lot­ others...

    From The Northerner, on Sun 24 May 8:00PM

  9. he has the wierdest shaped head ive ever seen in­ football

    From funky, on Sun 24 May 7:56PM

  10. Maldini is a legend - he could/would have graced any­ premiership club and been a cult hero - The­ "fans" who jeer should be ashmamed of­ themselves

    From Catherine, on Sun 24 May 7:52PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The fans have a point though. It's the fans who­ make the players rich, yet players think they are above­ the fans. I'm with the fans on this one, although,­ he was a great player, but if he disrespects the fans­ then I dont care how great a player you are.

    From ricky.carr4, on Sun 24 May 7:40PM

  12. what a legend

    From t.parkinson965, on Sun 24 May 7:31PM
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