April 22, (THEWILL) – The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has overturned a one-match suspension slammed on Inter Milan striker, Romelu Lukaku, for his reaction to racist abuse during an Italian Cup draw in Turin two weeks ago.
The Belgian forward had received two yellow cards, the second for his goal celebration in front of Juventus fans. He held his finger to his mouth and told them to “shut up.” The dismissal meant Lukaku was suspended from Inter’s next fixture.
However, Gabriele Gravina, President of the Italian Football Federation, speaking about the decision to lift that suspension, said: “The principle of the fight against all forms of racism constitutes one of the founding principles of the sporting order.” He added that the player “has been the target, on several occasions, of serious, repeated and despicable racial hatred and discrimination, at a level capable of justifying formally unlawful conduct.”
The decision means Lukaku can now play in the second leg of the semi-final in Milan on Wednesday. In a statement of his own, Lukaku said: “I believe that, thanks to the intervention, justice has been done and this sends out a great message to the whole world of sport and beyond. This has shown that the desire is there to fight racism.”
Inter were outraged when Juventus won their appeal against a one-match stand closure imposed on the Serie A side for the abuse of Lukaku by a section of Juve fans.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
