Inter ultras group the Curva Nord have intervened to make clear that their protest at the San Siro in yesterday evening’s Coppa Italia clash with Juventus concerned a proposed anti-racism tifo supporting Romelu Lukaku that was denied approval, rather than ticket prices.
Writing in a message posted on their official Twitter account, the ultras group made clear that what they were taking issue with was the fact that they were unable to display a tifo supporting Lukaku’s “shush” gesture which had been at the centre of a racism scandal involving Juventus fans.
The Nord made a protest in yesterday’s Coppa Italia semifinal second leg win over Juventus in the form of the removal of some of their banners.
There had been some speculation that this protest was a reaction to ticket prices at the San Siro.
However, the Nord have made clear that this was not the actual reason.
The group explain that they had intended to unveil a tifo representing Lukaku‘s goal celebration which had been in response to racist chants by Juventus supporters in the first leg, which had seen him suspended for yesterday’s match until a pardon by FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.
The group’s statement explains that they were surprised and frustrated that the anti-racism display was not given approval for the stadium.
“The protest that took place tonight [yesterday evening], or rather the removal of the banners from the barriers, was in response to the unnecessary and rather strange injustice which saw us not allowed to display an antiracism tifo tonight [yesterday],” their message reads.
“In fact, our resentment stems from the lack of authorization received to exhibit the aforementioned choreography, which paid homage to Lukaku’s gesture at the Juventus [Allianz] Stadium.”
“It was meant as a tifo against racism, a controversy which has been ongoing in recent weeks in the sports columns of television broadcasters and newspapers,” they noted.
“Instead, as usual, the truth has been misrepresented, insinuating that the selling of the Champions League Milan derby tickets had something to do with the reason for our protest,” they go on, “when in fact the sale hasn’t even happened yet, and we don’t know how it will be implemented.”
