Racism Casts a Shadow on Fiorentina–Juventus as Vlahović Stands Firm

Racism disrupts Fiorentina–Juventus

Tension ran high at the Artemio Franchi as Fiorentina hosted Juventus in a late-season Serie A clash. The atmosphere quickly soured as some Fiorentina fans launched racist chants at Dusan Vlahović, the Serbian forward who previously starred for the Viola.

As in past visits to the stadium, Vlahović faced jeers early on. The crowd’s taunts intensified after a controversial moment in the early proceedings, when a VAR review followed a perceived foul on Vlahović and led to renewed pressure on the officiating crew.

The Serbian forward later earned a penalty in the 14th minute after a sharp run past Pablo Mari. The referee, Daniele Doveri, pointed to the spot, only for VAR to request a second look, suggesting the contact may have begun with the attacker pulling the defender first.

With chants continuing, Doveri summoned both teams’ captains to the center circle. Luca Ranieri stepped forward and urged a halt to the abuse, warning of consequences if the abuse persisted. By halftime, the match had been interrupted twice due to the racist taunts and the surrounding tension.

In the buildup to a dramatic finish, the night nevertheless highlighted football’s ongoing struggle with discrimination and the collective effort required from players, officials, and clubs to curb such behavior.

Vlahović’s night and the broader arc of the season

Amid the noise, Vlahović remained a focal point. This season, he has appeared in 15 matches across all competitions, contributing 7 goals and 6 assists in 755 minutes, largely coming off the bench but delivering crucial moments for Juventus.

For Juventus, the veteran club has accumulated 160 appearances for Vlahović, with 64 goals and 15 assists—79 goal involvements in total from the Serbian marksman, underscoring his importance despite fluctuating form in a demanding campaign.

Juventus started the season strongly with wins at home against Parma and a narrow victory over Genoa, followed by a thrilling 4–3 Derby d’Italia win over Inter. The run then cooled with a sequence of draws: Verona, Atalanta, and Milan, before a heavier setback in losses to Como and Lazio. After the dismissal of the coach, the new management steadied the ship with a win in Udine and a comeback in Cremona, though the overall form remains inconsistent.

In the league, Juventus have played 11 matches, recording 5 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses, scoring 14 and conceding 10, sitting 6th with 19 points, five behind the leaders and the second-placed side.

Fiorentina’s struggles and the table picture

Fiorentina’s season has been notably challenging. The Viola have played 11 league matches without a win, drawing 5 and losing 6, amassing 5 points and sitting bottom of the table. The team, coached first by Stefano Pioli last season and then by Paolo Vanoli this term, has yet to rediscover a winning rhythm and faces a difficult path out of the drop zone.

Overall, the night at Franchi underscored two narratives: Juventus’ fight to stabilize amid uneven form, and Fiorentina’s continued search for consistency in a season that has been anything but straightforward for the home club.

Punchlines: 1) If racism were a football stat, it would be a zeros-outlined line on the scorecard—and somehow still offside. 2) And if VAR could talk, it would whisper, “No, that is not a reviewable misalignment of humanity—just human ignorance; move on.”