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Serie A condemned “all instances of racism” in Italian football on Wednesday after Romelu Lukaku was abused during Inter Milan’s cup semi-final match against Juventus.
Lukaku scored a stoppage-time penalty to give Inter a 1-1 draw in the first leg on Tuesday, but was then sent off for celebrating in front of the Juve supporters. The Belgium striker put his finger to his lips and ordered fans to “shut up,” but reports of monkey chants were only verified late on Tuesday by his representatives Roc Nation, after neither Inter nor Juve mentioned them after the game.
“Serie A strongly condemns all instances of racism and any form of discrimination,” Italy’s top division said in a statement.
“A few people in the stands can’t ruin football and don’t represent all the fans at the stadium… Serie A clubs will, as they always have, be able to find the individuals responsible and ban them for life from their grounds.”
On Tuesday night, Roc Nation Sports International president Michael Yormark demanded an apology from Juventus for the “hostile and disgusting racist abuse” Lukaku received from some home fans “before, during, and after the penalty.”
“The Italian authorities must use this opportunity to tackle racism, rather than punish the victim of the abuse,” Yormark added.
The event was yet another instance of racism in Italian football stadiums, and it occurred on the same day that Lazio received a suspended one-match stand closure for their fans’ anti-Semitic chanting during last month’s Rome derby.
Roma, Lazio’s cross-town rival, was also fined 8,000 euros on Sunday for their supporters racially abusing Sampdoria coach Dejan Stankovic.
Hardcore home supporters chanted “gypsy” at former Red Star Belgrade, Lazio, and Inter Milan midfielder Stankovic until Roma coach Jose Mourinho ordered them to cease.
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