(foto: Getty Images)
Mike Maignan was booed before a serious collision left him unconscious, but Udinese fans put rivalry aside and offered powerful support, earning praise from AC Milan and Sergio Conceição.
Mike Maignan went from being booed to being applauded at the Dacia Arena — and it had nothing to do with football performance.
The AC Milan goalkeeper lost consciousness after a violent collision with teammate Musah during their 4-0 win over Udinese. What followed was a moment of raw humanity from the home fans, who quickly turned their jeers into heartfelt applause.
Maignan was stretchered off and taken to hospital, where he later regained consciousness and began undergoing tests. Despite a difficult history with the Udinese crowd, the 29-year-old publicly thanked the fans for their support during those tense moments.
Before the incident, the atmosphere was hostile. Maignan had been loudly booed throughout the match — a continuation of past tensions. Just last year, he was the target of racist abuse in Udine, leading to four fans receiving lifetime bans. Since then, every return has been met with cold hostility.
But when the keeper hit the turf unconscious after colliding with Jimenez, everything changed. The crowd recognized the seriousness, and the boos gave way to concern, clapping, and chants of support.
Sergio Conceição, visibly emotional after the game, summed it up best: “They can whistle a player, but not a person. I have to congratulate the Udinese fans. I don’t know if I’ve seen something like that before.”
AC Milan will now prepare for their next clash, hosting Atalanta in just over a week, but the story of the night wasn’t just the 4-0 win — it was a crowd that remembered what matters more than football.