Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was subjected to racial abuse during their Coppa Italia semifinal clash with Juventus on Tuesday night.
The 29-year-old converted a penalty deep in second-half stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw for the Nerazzurri in the first-leg, after Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer handled the ball in his own box.
Juventus’ fans were heard hurling monkey noises during the Belgian’s run-up to the penalty. The former Manchester United forward then celebrated his goal by hushing the fans, a move that inadvertently angered the Old Lady players.
Lukaku was surprisingly given a second yellow card for his celebration and was sent off by referee Davide Massa.
Lukaku’s representatives, Roc Nation Sports International, issued a statement through their president, Michael Yormark, demanding an apology from Juventus for the “hostile and disgusting racist abuse” the player received from the home supporters “before, during, and after the penalty”.
Meanwhile, earlier today, the Italian football governing body, Serie A, condemned the racial abuse that the Inter Milan forward suffered during the game. In a statement on their website, they asserted that all instances of racism in Italian football are totally condemned.
