Lukaku Representative Requests Action After Racist Incident

Inter Romelo Lukaku celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the semi-final first leg match of Coppa Italia between Juventus FC and Inter FC, in Turin, Italy, 04 April 2023. (EPA)
Inter Romelo Lukaku celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the semi-final first leg match of Coppa Italia between Juventus FC and Inter FC, in Turin, Italy, 04 April 2023. (EPA)
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Lukaku Representative Requests Action After Racist Incident

Inter Romelo Lukaku celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the semi-final first leg match of Coppa Italia between Juventus FC and Inter FC, in Turin, Italy, 04 April 2023. (EPA)
Inter Romelo Lukaku celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the semi-final first leg match of Coppa Italia between Juventus FC and Inter FC, in Turin, Italy, 04 April 2023. (EPA)

Romelu Lukaku’s management company reacted with outrage after the Inter Milan forward was shown a second yellow card and then sent off for a gesture toward Juventus fans who directed racist chants at him.

The incident occurred after Lukaku converted a penalty in stoppage time to earn Inter a 1-1 draw in the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday.

Lukaku held his finger to his lips as if to silence the crowd after scoring.

Lukaku’s gesture enraged the opposing team and the game ended in a scuffle between the two squads, with Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado and Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic also sent off.

"Tonight’s racist remarks made towards Romelu Lukaku by Juventus fans in Turin were beyond despicable and cannot be accepted," Roc Nation Sports International president Michael Yormark said. "Before, during, and after the penalty, he was subjected to hostile and disgusting racist abuse. Romelu celebrated in the same manner he has previously celebrated goals.

"The referee’s response was to award a yellow card to Romelu. Romelu deserves an apology from Juventus, and I expect the league to condemn the behavior of this group of Juventus supporters immediately," Yormark added. "The Italian authorities must use this opportunity to tackle racism, rather than punish the victim of the abuse."

The Italian league on Wednesday issued a statement in which Lukaku was not named but said that it "strongly condemns every episode of racism and every form of discrimination."

"A few people in the stands cannot ruin the soccer show and don’t represent the thoughts of all the fans," the league said.

The league judge will likely open a disciplinary case into the matter, while Juventus said it would collaborate with authorities to identify the fans responsible.

Lukaku, who is Black, has been subjected to racist chants on numerous occasions during his two stints at Inter.



Austrian Skier Huetter Wins World Cup Downhill, World Champion Johnson Finishes 3rd

Cornelia Huetter of Austria in action during the Women's Downhill at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, 28 February 2025. EPA/Stian Lysberg Solum
Cornelia Huetter of Austria in action during the Women's Downhill at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, 28 February 2025. EPA/Stian Lysberg Solum
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Austrian Skier Huetter Wins World Cup Downhill, World Champion Johnson Finishes 3rd

Cornelia Huetter of Austria in action during the Women's Downhill at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, 28 February 2025. EPA/Stian Lysberg Solum
Cornelia Huetter of Austria in action during the Women's Downhill at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, 28 February 2025. EPA/Stian Lysberg Solum

Cornelia Huetter won the first women’s World Cup downhill since the Alpine skiing world championships on Friday to give new life to the battle for the discipline title.
The Austrian got her second downhill win of the season after beating Emma Aicher of Germany by 0.15 seconds. The 21-year-old Aicher secured her first career podium finish.
Downhill world champion Breezy Johnson finished 0.40 seconds behind in third as the American continued the wait for her maiden World Cup victory, The Associated Press reported.
Huetter also won the season opener in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December and closed the gap on discipline leader Federica Brignone to 26 points with three races left this season.
Brignone placed fifth, shortly behind Italian teammate Sofia Goggia, a week after she got back-to-back wins in two giant slalom races in Italy.
Huetter won the downhill title last season.
Lindsey Vonn finished 1.15 seconds off the lead and outside the top 10 as the 2010 Olympic champion continued her comeback season after six years away from racing.
“Experimenting every day with my equipment and I think I’m making progress. Focused on trying to improve every day, even if it’s small,” Vonn posted on Instagram on the eve of the race.
After a freezing cold night, the snow surface was harder than during the training runs the past days, meaning skiers reached higher speeds and needed to judge their turns differently on a course they were not used to race on.
Kvitfjell is an annual stop on the men’s circuit but hosted only one women’s downhill over the past 22 years, when Kajsa Vickhoff Lie celebrated a home win in 2023.
Another downhill is scheduled for Saturday, followed by a super-G the next day.