Inter Milan have decided to appeal the one match suspension of Chelsea owned striker Romelu Lukaku in the Coppa Italia, ahead of the second leg semifinal, to be played on April 26th at the San Siro.
This according to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FcInterNews, who reported live on air moments ago that the Nerazzurri will appeal the Chelsea owned striker’s one match Coppa Italia suspension to send a strong message against racism.
This follows the aftermath of the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal away to Allianz Stadium against Juventus which ended in a 1-1 draw after Romelu Lukaku equalized late into stoppage time from the penalty spot.
The Nerazzurri striker, who had come on as a second-half substitute, was booked for a challenge on Federico Gatti in the 80th minute, and the reaction from the Juventus fans in the stands was to begin loudly booing the player.
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According to the FIGC investigators’ report, a majority of the 5034 fans present in the first tier of the Tribuna Sud section of the Allianz Stadium behind the Juventus goal began making “monkey” chants shortly after Lukaku’s foul on Gatti, which were perceptible to the investigators present.
Then, after Inter were awarded a penalty late on in the match, it was Lukaku who stepped up to take it.
The FIGC report notes that the racist “monkey” chants continued and grew louder whilst the Belgian was waiting to take the spot kick.
Moreover, the investigators that there was one unidentified object that was thrown into the penalty area, whilst a half-full water bottle also made it on to the playing area.
After Lukaku scored from the spot and went to celebrate in front of the stand full of Juventus supporters by making a “silencing” gesture, and then was subsequently sent off, the FIGC reports that the racial abuse intensified.
The investigators heard more “monkey” chants as well as “racially derogatory” language shouted at the Inter strikers from certain Bianconeri fans present in the stand behind the goal.
Therefore, decision to appeal the one match suspension is rooted in that Inter feel that Lukaku didn’t do anything wrong as this is how the player always celebrates his goals in recent times.
The celebration itself is very common place in the Serie A, with Lecce’s Assan Ceesay celebrating in this manner today after scoring against Sampdoria, without being sanctioned.
