Juventus supporters banned from stadium for racist abuse of Lukaku

A total of 171 Juventus fans have received stadium bans for racist remarks and chants directed at Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, the Turin judicial authorities announced on Monday. The fans shouted racist abuse at the Belgian during the away leg of the Italian Cup semi-final on 4 April.

Police have launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators of the abuse. Around 250 people were involved, according to Italian media. The Turin prefecture has banned 171 fans from the stadium and fined them and the investigation will continue to identify the other perpetrators.

The fans hurled racist abuse at Lukaku after he equalised for Inter from the penalty spot in Turin. Lukaku celebrated the goal by putting his finger to his mouth in front of the opposition fans. The referee deemed the gesture provocative and showed him a second yellow card, meaning he was sent off and received a one-match suspension.

The incident sparked widespread rage. Italy's football authorities initially upheld Lukaku's suspension, but on Saturday the president of the Italian Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina, granted him an "exceptional and extraordinary" pardon.

^{© PHOTO Tiziana FABI / AFP}