Fans have held nothing back in showing their displeasure with Serie A Twitter account for crowning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the king in Napoli ahead of Victor Osimhen.
On Saturday, the verified account shared an image of Napoli and football icon Diego Maradona crowning Kvaratskhelia, who was seated in a royal-style chair with the Scudetto trophy flanked on his left.
The controversial graphic got a lot of fans, mostly Nigerians, agitated for what many alleged as racial discrimination given how instrumental Osimhen was to Napoli clinching the Serie A title after three decades.
Osimhen scored the goal that drew Napoli level against Udinese on Thursday, thus sealing the Scudetto for the Partenopei since the 1989/90 season.
During the campaign, the Nigerian scored 22 goals and provided four assists in 29 league games to help the team maintain a 16-point lead with five games to go.
The 24-year-old also broke records set by Samuel Eto’o for most goals scored by an African in a single season and that by George Weah for most goals scored by an African in Italy.
A new king is crowned in Napoli ? #NAPOLISCUDETTO pic.twitter.com/C7Ktx8ECBK
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 6, 2023
Reacting to the post, fans called out the admins of the Twitter account for wrong decision, dishing out statistics that place Osimhen above the Georgian winger.
UEFA-accredited, Paris-based Nigerian journalist @ojbsports wrote:
”I hope this isn’t a subtle racism. I expect @sscnapoli to make the needful correction of the error made by @SerieA_EN by giving @victorosimhen9, the true king of Napoli his deserved honour. Osimhen scored 22goals and assisted 4 in Serie A for Napoli.. (without penalty). Kvaratskhelia scored 12 and contributed 10 assists for Napoli.”
SEE OTHER REACTIONS:
This is italy ,why are you people surprised ??
— Prom Prom? (@effizzzyy) May 6, 2023
I wonder why they’re surprised tbh. Italy that is the headquarters of Racism.
— Napaul (@LifeOfNapaul) May 6, 2023
Italians & Racism ??
— Napaul (@LifeOfNapaul) May 6, 2023
They're not even hiding the racism. ??
— Elvis Tunde (@Tunnykvng) May 6, 2023
Real king has been crowned!!! Victor osimhen ? pic.twitter.com/PtYOFTdCNa
— BiG AYO? (@47kasz) May 6, 2023
No wonder no one rates your league.
Corruption, match fixing and racism!! Victor should leave and let’s see your fake king do it aloneCome to England king osimhen and school haaland how to do it properly
ENKR!!el eyin Oloshi
— BiG AYO? (@47kasz) May 6, 2023
Victor Osimhen needs to leave Napoli and this your useless Ligue.
I am speaking on behalf of all Nigerians at home and in Sudan that we have canceled your Ligue.
All of you should getat.
Our boy remains the King.
— Thεό Abu (@TheoAbuAgada) May 6, 2023
Wow! So what happened to using the image of this goal machine that won it for them? Racism pic.twitter.com/6QYnrDDxxm
— Comr. Gospel (Senator G) (@comrGos) May 6, 2023