Racially abused Kean incited crowd: Bonucci

Teenager’s Juventus teammate believes 19-year-old’s celebration was inappropriate

MILAN: Rising Italy star Moise Kean was targeted by racist abuse after he scored for Juventus on Tuesday — but teammate Leonardo Bonucci blamed him for inciting the crowd at Cagliari.

Goals from 19-year-old Kean and Bonucci gave Juve a 2-0 victory over Cagliari that took them closer to an eighth consecutive Serie A title.

Kean slotted in his fourth goal in as many league games in the 85th minute after Bonucci nodded in the opener on 22 minutes in Sardinia.

The youngster's celebration after scoring, however, infuriated the home crowd who had jeered the teenager throughout after he was booked for diving in the first half.

Kean, along with his French teammate Blaise Matuidi and Brazilian Alex Sandro, were targeted by monkey noises throughout the match, but they increased in intensity after the second goal.

The Juventus teenager celebrated with his hands outstretched in front of the Cagliari fans after scoring, taking to Instagram later to defend his actions as "the best way to respond to racism".

But Bonucci claimed that Kean should not have provoked the home supporters and said his teammate was partly to blame.

"Kean knows that when he scores a goal, he should celebrate that with his teammates. He knows he could have done something differently too," Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

"There were racist jeers after the goal, Blaise heard it and was angered. I think the blame is 50-50, because Moise shouldn't have done that and the Curva (Cagliari fans) should not have reacted that way.

"We are professionals, we have to set the example and not provoke anyone."

Coach Massimiliano Allegri agreed Kean "shouldn't have celebrated in that manner".