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REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – APRIL 14: Giorgio Furlani CEO of AC Milan looks on prior to the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on April 14, 2024 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Milan’s Curva Sud announced a fierce protest tonight with a scathing statement criticising everyone from Gerry Cardinale and Giorgio Furlani to the players.
Their game with Atalanta kicks off at San Siro this evening at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.
There had already been reports that the Milan ultras would vent their frustration with a protest, especially after a petition calling for CEO Furlani to be fired gained thousands of signatures.
They confirmed it today with a very long statement from the Curva Sud fan groups, listing by name all those they consider responsible for this latest disappointing season.
Milan ultras issue damning statement
“Exactly four years ago we were celebrating one of the most wonderful Scudetto wins in Milan’s history, a tournament won by admiring all those elements of a team that was not the favourite: courage, grit, unity, desire, team spirit and the incredible support of the fans.
“It was an unforgettable example of Milan spirit. Now, four years later, what is left?
“That was a winning team that needed only a few quality, international additions to aim higher, but was completely dismantled by a totally incapable and incompetent group of directors, led by Giorgio Furlani, who stands on the rubble of HIS sporting failure.
“It is clear for all to see, other than those who have interest in keeping him there, namely the owners whose vision of Milan is purely financial and based on revenue, trampling shamefully over the history of this club and the ambitions its fans always had.”
The statement goes on to blame Furlani for focusing on boosting revenue with player sales, a strategy seen both under previous owners Elliott Management and currently Cardinale’s RedBird.
Notably, they single out coach Max Allegri and director of sport Igli Tare as being “competent figures who are subjected to constant interference” from Furlani, preventing them from building a strong team.
“How can we stand for a Milan side that doesn’t challenge for the Scudetto and is content with battling for second, third, fourth place? How can you trample all over the history of Italy’s most prestigious club?”
There is a list of people blamed, including those behind the commercial strategy and ticketing, accusing them of trying to entice tourists to San Siro rather than the repeat fans in the Curva Sud, therefore hiking up the prices.
It called for Furlani to “pack his bags and leave Milan, for he is the prime figure responsible for Milan’s fourth consecutive year of sporting failure.”
The players are also criticised in the final paragraphs of this lengthy statement, noting that captain Mike Maignan had called the squad back into the locker room after the defeat to Sassuolo rather than listen to their jeers.
“This doesn’t take away from the fact that it all starts from the owners, who transmit a sense of mediocrity and resignation contrary to the need for motivation, fire and enterprise.”
