Romelu Lukaku will speak to the Italian Football Federation next week as part of their investigation into last month’s Milan derby, according to an Italian media report.
Lukaku was involved in a bitter row with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Inter’s Coppa Italia quarter-final win over AC Milan, an incident now subject to a probe from FIGC prosecutors.
The former Manchester United teammates exchanged insults and squared up to one another before half-time at San Siro, with both receiving just a yellow card from referee Paolo Valeri.
As per Tuttosport’s print edition, Lukaku’s interview will take place between next Wednesday and Friday, meaning the final verdict will not arrive until after the next Milan derby in the league on February 21.
The Belgian striker will tell prosecutor Giuseppe Chine that he reacted in the way he did because he was ‘repeatedly provoked’ by Ibrahimovic, who made references to Lukaku’s mother in a disrespectful manner.
The FIGC could impose further punishments on Ibrahimovic and Lukaku if they are found guilty of breaking the federation’s sports code of justice, with Ibra in particular at risk for his ‘voodoo’ jibe towards the Inter forward.
Valeri, the referee for the feisty Derby della Madonnina, has already provided his version of events, as has Ibrahimovic himself.
Lukaku had the last laugh at San Siro as he scored a penalty during Inter’s dramatic second-half fightback, while Ibrahimovic was dismissed for a second yellow card with 30 minutes left.
