Romelu Lukaku's agent has issued a statement after the on-loan Chelsea striker was sent off late in Inter Milan's dramatic first leg Coppa Italia semi-final on Tuesday.
The Belgian equalised for his side in the 95th minute from the penalty spot only to be sent off seconds later after gesturing to the home crowd, prompting a mass brawl which saw Juan Cuadrado and Samir Handanovic also dismissed. Lukaku was the subject of racist abuse from the crowd throughout the ordeal.
Lukaku's agents were quick to release a statement through president of Roc Nation Sports, Michael Yormak: "Tonight's racist remarks made towards Romelu Lukaku by Juventus fans in Turin were beyond despicable and cannot be accepted.
"Romelu scored a penalty late in the game. Before, during and after the penalty, he was subjected to hostile and disgusting racist abuse. Romelu celebrates in the same manner he has previously celebrated goals. The referees 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.
"The Italian authorities must use this opportunity to tackle racism, rather than punish the victim of the abuse.
"I am certain that the footballing world shares the same sentiment."
Juve full-back Danilo said after the game that Lukaku's provocative celebration was the cause of the red card, ignoring the alleged monkey chants aimed towards the forward throughout the tie. "It was very simple, Lukaku scored, he made a gesture to silence our fans and it is easy for the referee then to book him," Danilo told Sport Mediaset. "He was already on a yellow card and I think it was the right decision.
"It’s Juve-Inter, the Coppa Italia semi-final, this is not a normal game. Tempers are always a little high, there is a strong rivalry, I think this type of event is normal."
Lukaku himself has been keen to call out continued racism in the sport in the apst. "I think racism in football right now is at the all-time high. Why? Because of social media now as well," Lukaku told CNN Sport in 2021.
"I understand why people like Thierry Henry are blocking social media because it’s easy, you can track somebody down … The social media companies, they have to do more for me.
"For me, to be honest, I don’t really see progress. I see a lot of campaigns and all that stuff, but really until there is no real action taken.
"In Italy, when it happened to me directly, there was something that was done because the Serie A really communicated with me and my team.
"And we basically tried to educate people in Italy that it is not good, because in Italy, it is a beautiful country and I’ve been accepted really well by everybody, home fans, away fans.
"I think when that happened, it changed. That’s what all the leagues should do. They should talk to the players and basically try to start doing things with the players and with their teams."
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