Romelu Lukaku was racially harassed during Inter Milan's match against Juventus in the cup semifinals, leading Serie A to condemn "all instances of racism" in Italian football on Wednesday.
In the first leg on Tuesday, Lukaku's stoppage-time penalty gave Inter a 1-1 tie. But, he was later dismissed for celebrating in front of the Juve supporters, which resulted in a second booking.
The Belgian forward warned the crowd to "shut up," but claims of monkey chants were only confirmed late on Tuesday by his agents at Roc Nation after neither Inter nor Juve mentioned them following the game.
“Serie A strongly condemns all instances of racism and any form of discrimination,” Italy’s top division said in a statement.
“A few people in the stands can’t ruin football and don’t represent all the fans at the stadium… Serie A clubs will, as they always have, be able to find the individuals responsible and ban them for life from their grounds.”
On Tuesday night Roc Nation Sports International president Michael Yormark demanded an apology from Juve for “hostile and disgusting racist abuse” Lukaku received from some home supporters “before, during, and after the penalty”.
“The Italian authorities must use this opportunity to tackle racism, rather than punish the victim of the abuse,” Yormark added.
The incident—yet another instance of bigotry in Italian soccer stadiums—took place on the same day Lazio received a suspended one-match stand closure for the widespread anti-Semitic chants of their fans during the Rome derby last month.
Roma, Lazio's cross-town rivals, also received a punishment of 8,000 euros for their supporters' racial epithets directed at Sampdoria coach Dejan Stankovic on Sunday.
Hardcore home fans yelled at former Red Star Belgrade, Lazio, and Inter Milan midfielder Stankovic, dubbing him a "gypsy," until Roma coach Jose Mourinho ordered them to stop.
