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Lukaku's team demand action after racist incident
UEFA president urges tougher action on abuse of players
Milan: Romelu Lukaku's management company reacted with outrage after the Inter Milan forward was shown a second yellow card and then sent off for a gesture toward Juventus fans who directed racist chants at him.
The incident occurred after Lukaku converted a penalty in stoppage time to earn Inter a 1-1 draw in the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday. Lukaku held his finger to his lips as if to silence the crowd after scoring. Lukaku's gesture enraged the opposing team and the game ended in a scuffle between the two squads, with Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado and Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic also sent off.
"Tonight's racist remarks made towards Romelu Lukaku by Juventus fans in Turin were beyond despicable and cannot be accepted," Roc Nation Sports International president Michael Yormark said. "Before, during, and after the penalty, he was subjected to hostile and disgusting racist abuse. Romelu celebrated in the same manner he had previously celebrated goals.
"The referee's response was to award a yellow card to Romelu. Romelu deserves an apology from Juventus, and I expect the league to condemn the behaviour of this group of Juventus supporters immediately," Yormark added. "The Italian authorities must use this opportunity to tackle racism, rather than punish the victim of the abuse." The Italian league on Wednesday issued a statement in which Lukaku was not named but said that it "strongly condemns every episode of racism and every form of discrimination." "A few people in the stands cannot ruin the soccer show and don't represent the thoughts of all the fans," the league said. The league judge will likely open a disciplinary case into the matter, while Juventus said it would collaborate with authorities to identify the fans responsible. Lukaku, who is Black, has been subjected to racist chants on numerous occasions during his two stints at Inter.
In an effort to tackle abuse of players, including racism, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Wednesday soccer bodies and clubs could push for criminal prosecutions.
"Maybe it is time to go with harsher measures. Maybe it is time to put some people in court," Ceferin said in his keynote speech at the UEFA Congress ahead of his unopposed re-election as president. Although Ceferin did not specify any case, Real Madrid forward VinÃcius Júnior, who is Black, has been subjected to repeated abuse at Spanish league games this season. Those domestic games are outside UEFA's jurisdiction. Ceferin, a Slovenian lawyer, said soccer "is an inclusive sport" which is open to everyone. "Unfortunately, some people have still not grasped this concept, which is why we're going to have to rethink our approach," Ceferin said.
