Inter make Lukaku appeal despite unlikely success after Ademola Lookman incident

Lukaku scores for Inter

Inter make Lukaku appeal despite unlikely success after Ademola Lookman incident

Ayoola Kelechi 12:02 - 17.04.2023

Inter have decided to appeal Lukaku's Coppa Italia ban but are unlikely to succeed after Ademola Lookman suffered a similar fate earlier in the season

Inter have decided to appeal striker Romelu Lukaku suspension after the Belgian forward received a one-match ban following a red card during their Coppa Italia semifinal first leg against Juventus. 

Lukaku sent off in racism fuelled incident against Juventus 

Lukaku was sent off against Juventus after receiving a second yellow card for what referee Davide Massa considered a provocative celebration following the Belgian’s stoppage-time equaliser at the Allianz stadium in Turin. 

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Lukaku’s routine celebration of a finger over his lip and a salute was considered a source of provocation to the Juventus fans who had been hurling racial taunts at him before, during and after his successful penalty, and the Inter man was given his marching orders. 

In the ensuing melee, Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado and Inter’s Samir Handanovic were also sent off as the match ended on a heated note. 

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In the aftermath of the incident, Juventus were also issued a partial stadium ban for one match due to the racist taunts that their fans unleashed on Lukaku which will only take effect during their first Coppa Italia game for the 2023/24 season. 

Inter appeal Lukaku ban with low expectations of success

Inter have now decided to put in an appeal against Lukaku’s sending-off, which will currently rule him out of the semifinal second leg coming up on the 26th of April. 

They hope that he will be allowed to take part in the Coppa Italia game with the game hanging in the balance, but precedents show that it is unlikely that they will be successful with the appeal. 

Earlier this season, Atalanta’s Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman was also booked when he was accused of riling up the opposition supporters when he scored and performed his trademark celebration of cupping his hands to form binoculars, portraying his name “Lookman” against Udinese. 

Ademola Lookman doing his trademark celebration
Ademola Lookman doing his trademark celebration

Atalanta appealed the yellow card but their appeal was unsuccessful, and this is expected to be the case with Lukaku as well. 

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