LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Thierry Henry has expressed displeasure over Romelu Lukaku’s Serie A ban being upheld despite receiving racial epithets from Juventus supporters.
In the first leg of Inter’s Coppa Italia semifinal match, the Belgian forward tied the score from the penalty spot, but he endured nasty racial taunts the entire time. He was later given a second yellow for making a “shh” gesture at the Juve fans.
The striker was taught by Arsenal and France veteran Henry while serving as an assistant coach with the Belgian national team, and he was left in disbelief after the Italian top division illogically upheld the one-match punishment for Lukaku’s supposed “provocative behavior.”
According to CBS Sports on Tuesday, Henry said “It’s [racial abuse] everywhere, it has been everywhere and it looks like it always will be.”
“You can’t say it was the whole stadium because it was not, but it still happens. I go back to common sense again – that [Lukaku receiving racial abuse and being booked for ‘provoking’ supporters] is not common sense. You can have common sense when the guy has been hearing that [racial abuse] and he shushes the crowd, and he receives a yellow because of that? I go back to common sense again, and, the Italian Football Federation keeps the yellow? Wow.
“I don’t know why they kept the yellow. I suffered in Italy [with racial abuse], I suffered with it everywhere. Every time it was your reaction getting punished. This time, a section of the stadium will be sanctioned, but I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of seeing the ‘No To Racism’ on the shirt.
“I’ve had enough of seeing that lousy picture at the start of the game when we all come together and we focus on what is on the field. Can we focus on some other places and see what we can do properly about this? The guy, I go back to, got a yellow card for this. Please, let’s stop.”
Lukaku was permitted to play for Inter on the European stage despite serving a one-match suspension from domestic competitions, as his team celebrated a memorable 2-0 victory away to Portuguese powerhouse Benfica in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Henry believes that the Belgian’s decision to celebrate in the same way after scoring from the spot without being booked best sums up the issue.
He added: “I go back again and I hope we still have the referee there to talk to us about common sense and why common sense did not come into place there if he had a bit of empathy. He [Lukaku] did it again tonight. Did he get a yellow?
“Just because there were some people having a go at him…it’s the same celebration. Yes, I know what it looks like but I would have done worse than him – if I’m getting abused on the field.”
Apparently, Lukaku won’t be able to play for Inter against Monza on Saturday due to the suspension being upheld by the Italian authorities, but he’ll probably be back in the lineup for their quarterfinal second leg at San Siro.
