Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has questioned the Italian Football Federation's decision to uphold Romelu Lukaku's ban despite the Chelsea loanee being the victim of racial abuse during Inter Milan's Coppa Italia semi-final clash against Juventus last week. The Belgian forward was subjected to racial abuse from a section of the Juventus support before, during and after he scored a late penalty, and was sent off for a second booking by the referee for his celebration following the incident.
Juventus have been given a partial stadium ban for their next home game in the Italian Cup after some of their supporters directed racist chants at Lukaku on Tuesday, April 4. Lukaku was given a second yellow card for 'provoking' Juve fans by holding his finger to his lips as if to silence the crowd after converting his stoppage-time penalty.
The Belgium international has now been suspended for the return leg in the Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday, April 26. Lukaku scored for Inter as the Italian side beat Benfica 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Tuesday night and repeated the same celebration that he was booked for against Juve.
