Mueez Ajao
– Romelu Lukaku says Serie A must take “action for real this time” after he was racially abused by Juventus fans before being sent off on Tuesday.
– He was shown a second yellow card for holding his finger to his lips in front of the home fans after scoring a 95th-minute penalty in the Coppa Italia tie.
– “History repeats itself,” the Inter Milan striker wrote on Instagram. “Been through it in 2019 and 2023 again.
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– “This beautiful game should be enjoyed by everyone.”
– He added: “I hope the league really take actions for real this time.”
– Michael Yormark, president of Lukaku’s representatives Roc Nation Sports International, said the abuse was “beyond despicable”.
– Juventus said they would work with police to identify those responsible following the game.
– A statement read: “Juventus Football Club, as always, are collaborating with the police to identify those responsible for the racist gestures and chants which took place last night.”
– Scuffles broke out between players from both sides after Lukaku’s equaliser.
– Inter captain Samir Handanovic and midfielder Juan Cuadrado were shown red cards after the final whistle, with the fracas continuing down the tunnel.
– “Tonight’s racist remarks made towards Romelu Lukaku by Juventus fans in Turin were beyond despicable and cannot be accepted,” Yormark said in a statement.
– “Romelu scored a penalty late in the game. Before, during and after the penalty, he was subjected to hostile and disgusting racist abuse.
– “Romelu celebrated in the same manner he has previously celebrated goals. The referee’s response was to award a yellow card to Romelu.
– “Romelu deserves an apology from Juventus and I expect the league to condemn the behaviour of this group of Juventus supporters immediately.
– “The Italian authorities must use this opportunity to tackle racism, rather than punish the victim of the abuse.”
– Lukaku, who returned to Inter on loan from Chelsea last summer, suffered racist abuse during his first spell at Inter between 2019 and 2021.
– In September 2019 he said the game “was going backwards” after he was racially abused by Cagliari fans.
– Cagliari were later cleared of racist chanting, with Piara Powar – chief of anti-discriminatory body Fare – claiming the disciplinary systems to combat racism in Italian football were “not fit for purpose”.
– In September 2021, Lukaku said racism in football was at an “all-time high” and that players, football authorities and social media could do more to tackle the issue.
– In January, Serie A opened an investigation into allegations of racist abuse aimed towards Lukaku by Napoli fans.
– The same day Lazio supporters racially abused Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda of Lecce, with the club later ordered to close part of their stadium for their next match.
