Lukaku, Inter appeal against suspension in Coppa Italia. That precedent by Muntari…

Inter have filed an appeal to ask that it be removed Romelu Lukaku the one-day disqualification that hit him after the semifinal of Italian Cup, when his exultation was understood by the referee Massa as a polemical gesture towards the Juventus fans. The Nerazzurri club are aware that winning will be difficult, given that the player was sent off for double yellow and disqualification is automatic, but they have decided to try anyway, to give a strong signal against racism. Lukaku had in fact been insulted with monkey noise by numerous Juventus fans: certainly not the majority of the sector, as reported with evident exaggeration by the FIGC inspectors, but not even a few.

Muntari’s precedent

The FIGC appeals court has suspended the closure of the first tier of the south grandstand of the Allianz Stadium in Turin for one round, in consideration of the collaborative and attentive attitude of the Juventus club on the issue of racism. A decision that Inter do not dispute. The paradoxical result of the story, however, is that – in addition to two fans identified by Juventus itself and affected by a ban on accessing the stadium – Lukaku risks being the only one punished by sports justice. There is a precedent in favor of Inter and it dates back to 2017, when the FIGC court of appeal canceled the player’s disqualification Sulley Muntariexpelled for protests for having asked the referee to suspend the match, following the racist chants that had been addressed to him.

Solidarity in a gesture

It is clear that Lukaku’s exultation was not an ad-hoc gesture against the Juventus fans: already with his national team Lukaku had already rejoiced like this in the past – making a military salute with his right hand and bringing the index finger of his left to his lips – without any disciplinary action being taken against him. As a sign of solidarity with Lukaku, the Lecce striker Assan Ceesay today he cheered in the same way after scoring against Sampdoria. And the Anderlecht under 16 boys did the same as a group, after winning the Montaigu World Tournament.