Inter have released a statement after seeing their appeal against Romelu Lukaku’s Coppa Italia ban rejected: ‘The victim has become the only guilty party.’
Lukaku was sent off in the first-leg Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus in Turin on April 4. He received a second yellow card after a goal celebration which had been seen as disrespectful to the home crowd.
Lukaku had received racist abuse from most of the 5,000 Juventus fans in Curva Sud, but the FIGC court of appeal has confirmed his one-match ban, meaning he will miss the decider at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 26.
Read more – RACIALLY ABUSED LUKAKU IS THE ONLY ONE PUNISHED BY FIGC
“The FIGC’s National Court of Appeal today confirmed the suspension of Romelu Lukaku, who will be unable to participate in Wednesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final,” Inter said in a statement on Friday.
“FC Internazionale Milano feels it must consolidate its support for the player and expresses great sorrow at the fact that the victim has become the only guilty party.”
The Nerazzurri visit Empoli at the Stadio Castellani in Serie A on April 23, three days before the return leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals against Juventus.
Lukaku, on loan at Inter from Chelsea, has scored seven goals in 25 appearances this term and hasn’t yet reacted on social media.