Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has urged Serie A to take motion after he was subjected to racial abuse in the course of the Coppa Italia draw with Juventus, with the Turin facet saying they had been collaborating with the police to search out these accountable.
Lukaku scored a stoppage-time penalty on Tuesday to cancel out a late aim by Juve midfielder Juan Cuadrado and earn Inter a 1-1 semi-final first-leg attract Turin.
Throughout his celebrations, the Belgian striker held his finger as much as his mouth in entrance of Juve followers. The gesture was judged to be provocative and he was despatched off after a second yellow card.
In an announcement, US-based sports activities company Roc Nation, which represents Lukaku, demanded Juventus apologize to the striker.
“Tonight’s racist remarks made in the direction of Romelu Lukaku by Juventus followers in Turin had been past despicable and can’t be accepted,” Roc Nation Sports activities Worldwide president Michael Yormark mentioned.
“Earlier than, throughout, and after the penalty, he was subjected to hostile and disgusting racist abuse. Romelu celebrated in the identical method he has beforehand celebrated objectives. The referee’s response was to award a yellow card to Romelu.
“The Italian authorities should use this chance to deal with racism, somewhat than punish the sufferer of the abuse.”
Juventus mentioned on Wednesday they had been “collaborating with the police to establish these chargeable for the racist gestures and chants which came about final evening”.
Lukaku, on mortgage at Inter from Chelsea, was additionally the goal of offensive chants in 2019, which he condemned in a social media submit on the time.
“Historical past repeats… Been by way of it in 2019.. and 2023 once more..,” Lukaku mentioned in a submit on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I hope the league actually takes actions for actual this time as a result of this lovely sport ought to be loved by everybody…”
Racism has been a long-running drawback in Italian soccer and authorities have been criticized for not taking robust sufficient motion.
“Golf equipment, as they’ve all the time performed, will establish the responsible people and ban them from their respective amenities for all times,” Serie A mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday wherein it condemned racism.
The league didn’t title Lukaku within the assertion.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino provided his assist for Lukaku.
“I stand with Romelu Lukaku, simply as we do with another participant, coach, match official, fan or participant in a soccer match who has suffered from racism or another type of discrimination,” he mentioned on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I repeat the decision I made earlier this yr for followers to face up and silence the racists.
“Equally, in soccer, we have to be certain that strict sporting sanctions are utilized to handle such incidents and to function a deterrent.”
The pinnacle of soccer’s world governing physique didn’t handle the yellow card that the striker noticed as a consequence of his aim celebration.
France ahead Kylian Mbappe provided assist for Lukaku in a social media submit, saying that in 2023 soccer struggles towards “nonetheless the identical issues”.
