Juventus face ban after Lukaku racist incident

Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring against Juventus

Juventus face ban after Lukaku racist incident

Ayoola Kelechi 20:37 - 06.04.2023

Serie A giants Juventus could have part of their stadium closed after the racist incident involving Lukaku

Italian giants Juventus have received a partial stadium ban after Inter’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku suffered racist abuse at the Allianz stadium during the Copa Italia semifinal first leg which ended in a stalemate

Lukaku suffers racist abuse against Juventus 

Lukaku scored a 95th-minute penalty in the match to secure a draw against Juventus for Inter in the Copa Italia semifinal first leg, but the Belgian forward had been the target of racist abuse before, during, and after his decisive penalty. 

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Lukaku reacted by shushing the south end of the Juventus stadium after scoring, and his actions led to a melee on the pitch that saw Lukaku, Juan Cuadrado, and Samir Handanovic get sent off. 

Juventus forced to close part of Allianz stadium

In the aftermath of the match, Lukaku received a one-match suspension and now misses the Copa Italia second leg, while Handanovic was suspended for one game as well, with Cuadrado suspended for three games. 

Juventus face further punishment for their fans’ role in the incident and it has now been announced that part of the southern end of the Old Lady’s Allianz Stadium will be closed for Juventus’ first home game in next season’s Italian Cup.

The record scudetto winners said they were working with authorities to identify the fans involved in the unsavoury incident so they can be punished appropriately. 

Romelu Lukaku celebrating his goal for Inter against Juventus in the Coppa Italia
Romelu Lukaku celebrating his goal for Inter against Juventus in the Coppa Italia

It is not the first incident of racist abuse involving Lukaku or Juventus, as the Inter striker on loan from Chelsea also suffered abuse in his first spell at Inter, while Juve forward Moise Kean also suffered abuse in 2019 against Cagliari. 

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Lukaku also took to his Instagram account today to condemn the action of Juventus fans and the recurrent nature of racism in Italian football, while calling for the league to take stronger measures against racists and racism in the league. 

    

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