The chances that Inter could have the suspension of Romelu Lukaku for the second leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal tie against Juventus overturned on appeal have been deemed to be “almost impossible.”

This according to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews, who report that the Nerazzurri would be unlikely to win any appeal against the second yellow received by the Belgian, even despite the fact that it came amid scandalous racist chants from Bianconeri fans.

Lukaku was sent off very late in yesterday’s Coppa Italia semifinal first leg match against Juventus.

The 29-year-old had scored a last-gasp equalizer from the penalty spot, and then went to celebrate the goal with a “silencing the crowd” gesture in front of a stand full of Juventus supporters behind the Bianconeri goal.

There were also racist chants from some of the Juventus fans, which the Inter striker appeared to react to angrily during his celebrations.

What is not entirely clear at this stage is whether the second yellow that Lukaku received was for his celebration, or for a subsequent scuffle with Juventus wingback Juan Cuadrado.

What is clear, however, is that given that the 29-year-old had already been booked for a lunging tackle on Juventus defender Federico Gatti, he was given his marching orders, and that this means that he will be suspended for the second leg.

In any event, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi defended his striker, and hinted that there could be an appeal to try and get the Belgian back available for the second leg.

However, given the nature of the sending off, which came as a result of two yellow cards rather than a straight red, Mediaset report that Inter could be facing an uphill battle to get the suspension overturned.

Whilst there could be an appeal from the Nerazzurri, the broadcaster reports that it would be highly unusual for a suspension resulting from two yellow cards in a single match to be overturned on appeal.

It will remain to be seen if the mitigating circumstances of the racism scandal surrounding Lukaku’s second yellow card could play a role.