Juventus asked to apologize to Lukaku

"The racist remarks made by Juventus fans towards Lukaku tonight are despicable and unacceptable," Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) president Michael Yormark said in a statement. "Before and after the penalty, Lukaku was subjected to hostile and disgusting discrimination. Lukaku deserves an apology from Juventus."

Yormark also hopes the Italian Football Federation will condemn the behavior of Juventus fans, address the issue of racism, instead of punishing victims of abuse.

In the 93rd minute of the semi-final first leg of the Italian Cup on April 4, when the host Juventus led 1-0, referee Davide Massa gave Inter a penalty. On the 11m mark, Lukaku sank to the left corner, setting the score 1-1.

After scoring, the Belgian striker put his hand to his mouth, signaled to be quiet and directed to Curva Sud - the area behind the southern goal, which gathers groups of loyal Juventus fans. Lukaku also used provocative words, causing the Juventus fans to react violently and throw many objects on the field. The Inter striker received a second yellow card for these actions.

Regarding Lukaku's hand-to-mouth celebration, the representative of Roc Nation Sports International said that this is the trademark of the Belgian striker. Yormark was upset with Lukaku being sent off, and said that the football world agreed with him on the need to severely punish Juventus fans.

Lukaku's goal celebration opened a clash between players of the two teams. Juan Cuadrado and Samir Handanovic both received red cards, while many Inter and Juventus players continued to chase and fight in the tunnels and locker rooms.

Coach Simone Inzaghi agreed with Yormark when he said that Lukaku was misunderstood by the referee. "He always celebrates goals that way," said the Inter strategist. "Unfortunately that created an unsightly scene, costing us two mainstays in the second leg, Lukaku and Handanovic."

IFAB rules state that players will be warned even if a goal is disallowed, if the celebration is provocative, mocking or inciting. In Serie A, Ademola Lookman was once booked for a "binocular" goal celebration, referring to his own name. At that time, the referee did not realize that it was the familiar celebration of the Atalanta striker.

RNSI is a company representing sports athletes, founded by rapper Jay-Z in 2013. Besides Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Reece James are famous players who choose RNSI as their agency.