Juventus have been handed a one-match partial stadium closure after fans racially abused Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku was the victim of racist chants before being sent off at Inter 1-1 Coppa Italia draw with Juve mardi.
Serie A have ruled that the lower tier of the South Stand at the Allianz Stadium will be closed for Juventus’ league game against Napoli on April 23, following racist chants from ‘the majority of the fans’ seated in this section before and during Lukaku’s penalty.
The 29-year-old received a second yellow card for putting his finger to his lips in front of the home fans after his late equalizer in the first leg.
Lukaku will serve a one-game ban for his red card, while Juventus midfielder Juan Cuadrado and Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic were also suspended after a row broke out after the final whistle. .
Cuadrado, the Juve striker, was handed a three-match ban for grabbing Handanovic by the neck and punching him, while the Inter captain was given a one-game ban for his role in the fight.
Earlier on Thursday, representatives from Lukaku – sports agency Roc Nation – said sport should “hold the bigots accountable”, adding that “hate equals racism equals ignorance”.
Taking out a full-page ad in the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, he wrote: “Dear Italy, do better, want better, be better. »
Lukaku said on Instagram after the game in Turin that “history is repeating itself”, adding that he was also the victim of racist abuse in 2019.
Roc Nation said: “In professional football, black players have faced hate in professional football matches.
“The hate has manifested itself in the form of monkey chants, racial slurs and banana peels thrown at the best players in the world, under the eyes of the world, under the eyes of the children, under the eyes of the families of players.
“No one suffered any consequences for this heinous behavior. Nothing has changed. No action has been taken.
“In fact, the only person who could be held responsible is a player, if he reacts to this disgusting behavior during the game. Enough is enough.
“We call on the global sports community – players, team owners, artists, brands and all fans – to call out racist behavior and hold bigots accountable to a human standard. The one who defends decency, respect and compassion for others. »
Italian football federation FIGC will mark their #UnitiDagliStessiColori (#Unitedbythesamecolours) anti-discrimination campaign at all levels of the game this weekend.
Inter play Salernitana in Serie A on Friday at 4:00 p.m. BST.
