The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Lukaku wants stance against racist abuse
Inter striker calls for players to unite to force action
Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku is calling on footballers to take a united stance against racist abuse, saying the situation is getting worse, not better, after he was targeted by Cagliari fans on Sunday.
The Belgium star was racially abused by home fans as he took a second-half penalty, which he scored to give the visitors a 2-1 win in his second game in Serie A since joining Inter from Manchester United this summer.
This, however, was not the first time Cagliari fans have behaved like this in recent seasons, having also racially abused Moise Kean and Blaise Matuidi in previous matches against Juve and Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari when he was with Pescara in 2017.
In a statement posted on his Instagram page, Lukaku noted that “many players” have received racist abuse recently and now he has, too.
“Football is a game to be enjoyed by everyone and we shouldn’t accept any form of discrimination that will put our game in shame,” he wrote.
“I hope the football federations all over the world react strongly on all cases of discrimination!!! Social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook...) need to work better as well with football clubs, because every day you see at least a racist comment under a post of a person of colour. We’ve been saying it for years but still no action.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s 2019, instead of going forward, we’re going backwards and I think as players we need unity and to make a statement on this matter to keep this game clean and enjoyable for everyone.”
Soon after Lukaku’s comments, Cagliari published a statement on their website and social media platforms.
It said Cagliari “firmly rejects” what happened and “underlines, once again, its intention to identify and ban those ignorant individuals whose shameful actions are completely against” the club’s values.
But having pointed out that most fans, from both clubs, had “enjoyed a lovely evening together”, Cagliari hit back at “the outrageous charge and silly stereotypes” directed at their supporters and Sardinians in general, “which are absolutely unacceptable”.