Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are unlikely to face serious punishment for their bust-up during last month’s Milan derby, according to an Italian media report today.
During the Coppa Italia quarter-final at San Siro, the former Manchester United teammates were involved in a heated exchange near the end of the first half, squaring up to one another after exchanging insults.
As per Gazzetta dello Sport’s print edition, Lukaku spoke to the Italian Football Federation yesterday as part of their investigation into the spat, after both players got away with a booking from referee Paolo Valeri on the night.
The pair are likely to escape with either a fine or a one-match ban to be served in the Coppa Italia, although no verdict is expected until after this weekend’s Derby della Madonnina.
Lukaku explained that his furious reaction came as a result of Ibrahimovic having touched a nerve by mentioning his mother, with whom the Inter striker has a close relationship.
The Belgian was said to have not lingered too much on the subject of racism, despite some arguing the AC Milan forward’s comments about Lukaku doing ‘voodoo’ had discriminatory undertones.
Gazzetta said Ibrahimovic’s conduct would be downgraded from discriminatory to seriously unsportsmanlike, therefore meaning the punishment he could incur is less serious.
