Inter Milan News Today: Inter has expressed their disappointment in Lukaku’s game ban
Inter Milan were disappointed when a one-match ban for striker Romelu Lukaku was maintained, claiming that the player was penalised despite being racially harassed in their Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus.
Lukaku, who was sent off in the first leg of the semi-final, will be suspended for the second leg against Juventus on Wednesday after the club’s appeal was denied by Italy’s Sports Court Of Appeal.
“FC Internazionale Milano feels it must consolidate its support for the player and expresses great sorrow at the fact that the victim has become the only guilty party,” Inter said in a statement.
The Belgian striker was subjected to racial abuse during the first leg at Juventus “before, during, and after the penalty” he had scored to earn Inter a 1-1 draw, the player’s representatives said.
Lukaku was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for his goal celebration, in which he placed his finger to his mouth in front of Juve fans, a disrespectful gesture.
After racist chanting were heard emanating from the Tribuna Sud section of their stadium, Juventus was forced to close it, a prohibition that was eventually reversed after the team appealed.
