Serie A referee-designatore Gianluca Rocchi has made the promise that there will be no more players sent off after receiving racist abuse as was the case with Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was.

The official spoke to the media to clarify the matter, as reported by FCInterNews.

Nerazzurri striker had been at the centre of a racism scandal at the start of April.

During his team’s Coppa Italia semifinal first leg away to Juventus, Bianconeri fans had been subjecting the Belgian to racist “monkey” chants.

In the closing stages of the match, Inter were awarded a penalty. Lukaku was the player who stepped up and took it.

After scoring from the spot, the Inter striker went to celebrate in front of the Juventus fans.

Using a “shush” gesture and verbally telling the Bianconeri fans to quiet down, Lukaku made his point clear.

Match official Davide Massa decided to book the 30-year-old, on the grounds of his celebration inciting the fans. Since Lukaku had already been booked, this meant that he was sent off.

Rocchi: No More “Lukaku Situations” – No Punishment For Victims Of Racism

The fact that Lukaku had been sent off in the incident set off a firestorm of controversy.

Many saw the Belgian as having been harshly punished purely for reacting to racist abuse from fans.

In the end, that is how Italian FA President Gabriele Gravina saw it. The President issued an executive pardon which lifted Lukaku’s suspension for the second leg of the tie.

Supporters of Lukaku felt that this was only fair given the mitigating circumstances.

However, on its own this did not necessarily address the underlying issues of racism in football.

For his part, Serie A referee-designator Rocchi hopes to address the problem for good.

He stated, “Above all, we referees know what it means to be the object of insults. Especially out on the smaller pitches.”

“It’s not fair to punish those who are already victims,” he continued.

“If a player receives racist chants and then protests towards the crowd, he’ll no longer be booked,” Rocchi explained. “Provided of course that he doesn’t exaggerate.”