AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists that he did not make a racist remark to Inter striker Romelu Lukaku during the pair’s heated exchange last month.
The former Manchester United strikers clashed shortly before half-time during Inter’s 2-1 Coppa Italia Quarter Final victory over Milan, with the pair hurling insults at each other and being separated by teammates.
Ibrahimovic was heard making reference to voodoo in his dispute with Lukaku, but as reported in today’s newspaper edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Swede denied any racist intent when meeting with the Italian Football Federation’s public prosecutor, Fabio Esposito.
A meeting was held at Casa Milan yesterday and Ibrahimovic was interviewed for an hour to give his account of the event, as well as to respond to allegations that the voodoo comments were racist.
The former Barcelona and Juventus forward insisted that it was instead a reference to Lukaku’s departure from Everton, after Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri had claimed that Lukaku opted against signing a new contract due to voodoo influence.
Ibrahimovic’s case will be assessed by the public prosecutors office, with Milan’s lawyers ready to defend him against any potential racism charge.
