FG Pursuing Diplomatic Avenues with Italy over the Mocking Of Victor Osimhen by Napoli.

Federal Government says it is pursuing diplomatic avenues with Italy over the mocking of Nigerian footballer VICTOR OSIMHEN by Italian football club Napoli.

Sports minister John Owan Enoh said that he was “saddened” by the news of Napoli ridiculing the striker.

The club had shared a video on their Tiktok account of Osimhen missing a penalty, dubbed with a high-pitched voice saying “gimme penalty please”.

The club deleted the post after a backlash, but the player’s agent has threatened legal action against the club.

Mr Enoh also said that the Nigerian government placed a priority on protecting the welfare of its athletes.

On Thursday, Napoli saying that the video was created with “expressive language used in a light-hearted and playful manner”.

It also said that it “never intended to offend or make fun of victor Osimhen, who is an asset to the club”.

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Osimhen’s agent has threatened to take legal action against Napoli over the post, which has now been deleted.

In the post, the Partenopei ‘memed’ Osimhen’s penalty miss in an attempt to poke fun at the situation.

The video was met with significant outrage by fans on social media who were befuddled by the decision of a club to use an official account to berate their own player.

But in a statement on Thursday, Napoli stopped short of apologising to Osimhen. “To avoid any potential exploitation of the matter, SSC Napoli would like to explicitly state that the club never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen, who is an asset to the club.

“Over the course of the summer, Napoli rejected all offers to sign the striker – firm proof of the club’s appreciation of him.

“On social media and TikTok particularly, expressive language is used in a light-hearted and playful manner. In this case, involving Victor. There was no intention of mockery or derision.

“If Victor was in any way offended, this was not at all in the club’s intentions.”