Inter Won’t Appeal Romelu Lukaku One Match Ban In Inter Milan Vs Juventus Coppa Italia Second Leg

Inter do not plan on appealing the suspension that was handed to striker Romelu Lukaku for receiving two yellow cards during Tuesday evening’s Coppa Italia semifinal first leg match against Juventus.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the 29-year-old’s ban for the second leg of the tie will not be appealed, although the Nerazzurri intend to seek answers regarding the racist abuse that the player received.

Given the racist abuse that Lukaku received from some Juventus supporters behind the goal in Tuesday evening’s match, there had been some speculation that the Nerazzurri could appeal his suspension due to the mitigating circumstances.

However, it had also been reported yesterday that the chances of success for such an appeal would likely be “almost impossible.”

Moreover, the decision of referee Davide Massa to issue a second yellow card in the aftermath of the Belgian’s penalty goal and celebration have reportedly been defended by Referee-Designator Gianluca Rocchi, who backs the official and believes that the correct decision was made.

Accordingly, the Corriere report that Inter have little intention of trying to appeal the decision.

Rather, the team are putting their focus on the pitch, and will look to have Lukaku putting the scandalous incident behind him and back at his best in the league and Champions League fixtures on the way.

This does not mean, however, that the Nerazzurri will not seek action regarding the racist abuse that Lukaku received, and on the contrary they expect action to be taken.

However, the club will not be appealing to have the striker’s one-match suspension rescinded as part of this, and will accept heading into the second leg against Juventus without him.

The Corriere notes that in a somewhat parallel incident, current Chelsea and former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off for two yellow cards in a match against Inter at the San Siro in 2018 in which the Senegalese was also the subject of racist abuse, this time from Inter fans.

In that instance, the then-Partenopei player’s suspension stood, whilst Inter did not appeal the sentence that they would have to play two matches behind closed doors, whilst an additional match saw the north stand of the San Siro empty.