The Italian Minister of Sport Andrea Rabodi has promised that there will be a systemic response to racism in sport following racist abuse suffered by Inter striker Romelu Lukaku in yesterday evening’s Coppa Italia match against Juventus.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNewss, Abodi reacted to the scandalous incident which saw the 29-year-old Belgian international targeted by racist chants from a number of Bianconeri supporters in yesterday evening’s match.
There is clear video of a group of Juventus supporters directing “monkey” chants at Inter striker Lukaku in yesterday’s Coppa Italia semifinal first leg match between the Bianconeri and the Nerazzurri.
The Nerazzurri striker was controversially sent off following the incident, apparently given a second yellow card for his celebration of a late penalty goal in which he appeared to “silence” the Juventus fans who had been directing racist chants at him.
In the aftermath of the incident, there has been no shortage of responses condemning the racist behaviour, from Inter, from the player himself, and from a number of his fellow professionals including Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
Now, Italy’s Minister of Sport Abodi has weighed in, and he has also promised that there will be a serious institutional response by the Italian federal government in the wake of the scandalous scenes at the Allianz Stadium.
“Unfortunately what we’re seeing is a continuation of the kind of unacceptable behaviour to which we’ve been trying to make a structural response,” the Minister said.
“What we plan to do in response to this kind of unacceptable behaviour, is to draw up a handbook of protocols that the clubs will have to follow, as well as the Lega Serie A and the FA,” he continued.
Abodi made clear that “Racism and antisemitism have no place inside stadiums, if you enter stadiums you either respect the rules or you’re kicked out.”
