Fan-protest furore overshadows Maldini swansong

ROME: AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini wraps up his remarkable career at Fiorentina on Sunday (1300 GMT, Monday morning Beijing time) with Serie A's last automatic Champions League slot up for grabs, but the swansong has been overshadowed by a fan protest.

Maldini was accused of lacking respect to his club's supporters in a large banner shown as the 40-year-old did a lap of honor at the end of his San Siro goodbye last week, a 3-2 defeat by AS Roma.

Third-placed Milan need a draw at fourth-placed Fiorentina to be sure of going directly into the group stage of next season's Champions League.