Cagliari & Verona avoid racism bans

By Football Italia staff

Cagliari and Verona have both avoided punishments for racially abusing Inter striker Romelu Lukaku and Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.

The FIGC vowed to investigate the monkey chants subjected to Lukaku by Cagliari fans before the international break.

However, its Giudice Sportivo panel ruled on Tuesday that the chants were not considered discriminatory in terms of “size and real perception”.

This is the third time the Sardinians have dodged punishment for racially abusing an opponent in two years after they targeted Moise Kean and Blaise Matuidi.

On the other hand, they did receive a €5,000 fine for throwing bottles on to the pitch and at stewards against Parma.

Verona will also not be sanctioned, despite there being clear evidence that Kessie received racist insults during Milan’s trip to the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on Sunday.

Racist abuse very rarely leads to a ban in Italy, as the only previous incidents have come after repeated fines and warnings, for example after Inter breached their suspended sentence with large sections of the crowd insulting Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

Even then, only a section of the stadium where the chants are heard usually get shut, so the fans responsible can just buy tickets to other areas.

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