MILAN, Italy (AFP) — AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi pledged yesterday that his team would walk off the pitch again to support a player who was victim of racist abuse by fans.

Berlusconi, the former Italy prime minister who is both president and owner of the Milan giants, was speaking a day after the latest racism incident to mar Italian football.

On Thursday German-born Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng walked off the pitch after heckling from local fans in an away game against fourth division side Pro Patria, who are based in Busto Arsizio near Milan.

Boateng’s move has been widely applauded by media and players alike although some, including former Milan players Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf, have questioned Milan’s decision.

Berlusconi, however, said he would back his team if they walked off the pitch again whether in domestic or continental matches.

“I can assure you that in every game, including international (European), if we experience episodes of this nature we will, as a rule, leave the pitch,” Berlusconi said according to ANSA.

Berlusconi also applauded Boateng “for his reaction to the disgraceful episode of racism against Pro Patria”.

Former Milan midfielder Gattuso, now with Swiss side FC Sion, suggested the incident had not been motivated by racist sentiment.

He told Corriere dello Sport: “I’ve lived five kilometres from Busto Arsizio for years and it’s an area full of foreigners. There are no racists in Busto. What happened yesterday was down to a group of idiots.”

He added: “How many times have there been boos against white players in the past? It’s happened to me too, but I brushed it off.

“Boateng felt offended, but I don’t believe it was racism. It seems more to be the latest episode of collective idiocy from a minority.”

A number of players have since come out in support of Boateng, including former France midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Former Milan player Seedorf, who now plays with Botafogo in Brazil’s top flight, however said he feared the incident could play into the hands of potential racists.

“I don’t see it as such a positive thing because (it) empowers more and more of this behaviour,” Seedorf, who won two Champions League titles with Milan, was quoted as saying by the BBC.

“Walking away? Yes, you send a signal. But this has happened more than once and I don’t think it really changes all that much. We are just empowering that little group with their behaviour to make this mess.”

So far, Europe’s governing football body UEFA has made no comment on the incident.

Italian football federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete said Thursday efforts were being made to identify the perpetrators, adding: “No matter what sanctions are imposed, nothing can cancel the disdain for such an intolerable episode.

“My complete backing goes to the players who were victims of racist chants and to Milan, who refused to continue playing — a decision that was shared by the referee, who had already suspended the match twice.”