Kessie and Lukaku subjected to more racism in Italy

By: The Associated Press Posted: 2:48 AM CDT Monday, Sep. 16, 2019 Last Modified: 4:08 AM CDT Monday, Sep. 16, 2019

MILAN - AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie was reportedly subjected to racist chants over the weekend, and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was insulted by an Italian TV commentator.

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MILAN - AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie was reportedly subjected to racist chants over the weekend, and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was insulted by an Italian TV commentator.

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This article was published 16/09/2019 (2594 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MILAN – AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie was reportedly subjected to racist chants over the weekend, and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was insulted by an Italian TV commentator.

Hellas Verona supporters aimed offensive chants at Kessie during the first half of a 1-0 loss to Milan on Sunday night, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported.

The Italian sports newspaper adds that the chants continued during halftime.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, center, controls the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Verona tweeted Monday that the chants may have been misunderstood amid the loud cheers of its supporters, adding that there were “inevitable whistles for refereeing decisions that still today leave us very perplexed.”

Verona’s Mariusz Stepinski was shown a straight red card in the first half.

Verona concluded its tweet with the hashtag “respect.”

Kessie, an Ivory Coast international who is black, was also subjected to racist chants by Inter Milan and Lazio fans last season.

Also Sunday, a commentator on Italian TV, Luciano Passirani, was immediately suspended for a racist comment directed at Lukaku.

Speaking on the “Qui Studio a Voi Stadio” show, Passirani started off by saying, “I don’t see any other player in Italy now like Lukaku. … I really like him,” before adding, “the only way to stop him is to say, ‘Here are 10 bananas that you can eat.'”

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, right, heads the ball flanked by Udinese's Mato Jajalo, Rodrigo Becao, center, and Udinese's Sebastien De Maio, left, during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Lukaku, who is also black, was targeted with monkey chants by Cagliari fans this month. The league judge has not decided yet whether Cagliari should be punished.

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