INTER MILAN’S ultras have shockingly defended the actions of Cagliari fans who racially abused Romelu Lukaku at the weekend.
The summer signing from Manchester United suffered sick racist monkey chants as he scored Inter Milan’s winning penalty.
But the Curva Nord fans’ group, writing on their Facebook page ‘L’urlo della Nord’ claim that the chants were not racist but designed to “mess opponents up”.
They claim that such actions are designed to “make opponents nervous” and to “help” their own team win.
Worryingly, the statement, posted in full by FedeNerazzura, also says: “We have always used that “way” with other teams’ players in the past and we probably will in the future.”
The ultras then go on to stick up for the Cagliari fans who made the monkey noises.
They add: “We are not racist and so are not the Cagliari fans.
“True racism is a completely different story and all Italian football fans know it very well.”
Then follows a deplorable accusation that footballers make the situation “worse” for highlighting the racism.
It continues: “When you declare that racism is a problem to be fought in Italy you just help the repression against all football fans including us and you contribute to create a problem that is not really there, not in the way that is perceived in other countries.
“We are very sensitive and inclusive with all people.
“We guarantee you that in our organisation there are many fans of different races or fans coming from other parts of Italy that also use this ways to provocate their opponents even when the have the same races or are coming from the same areas.
“Please help us to clarify what racism really is and that Italian fans are not racist.”
Former Manchester United striker made it two goals in two games since joining the Serie A side in the 2-1 win over Cagliari.
But his 72nd-minute spot kick was totally overshadowed by the horrendous racist abuse directed at him in the run up.
After slotting the spot kick in to the bottom right corner of the goal, the 26-year-old striker did not celebrate.
Instead he glared at the fans shouting vile taunts in his direction.
And the ex-Everton frontman posted a statement in the hours after addressing the sick abuse.
He wrote: “Many players in the last month have suffered from racial abuse. I did yesterday too.
“Football is a game to be enjoyed by everyone and we shouldn’t accept any form of discrimination that will put our game in shame.
“I hope the football federations all over the world react strongly on all cases of discrimination!
“Social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) need to work better as well with football clubs because every day you see at least a racist comment under a post of a person of colour.
“We’ve been saying it for years and still no action.
“Ladies and gentlemen it’s 2019. Instead of going forward we’re going backwards and I think as players we need [to] unify and make a statement on this matter to keep this game clean and enjoyable for everyone.”
Hi Romelu
We are writing you on behalf of Curva Nord, yes the guys who welcomed you at your arrival in Milan.
We are really sorry you thought that what happened in Cagliari was racist.
You have to understand that Italy is not like many other north european countries where racism is a REAL problem.
We understand that it could have seemed racist to you but it is not like that.
In Italy we use some “ways” only to “help our teams” and to try to make our opponents nervous, not for racism but to mess them up.
We are a multiethnic fans organization and we have always welcomed players from everywhere. However, we have always used that “way” with other teams’ players in the past and we probably will in the future.
We are not racist and so are not the Cagliari fans.
You have to understand that in all Italian stadiums people cheer for their teams but at the same time they use to cheer against the opponents not for racism but to “help” their own team.
Please consider this attitude of Italian fans as a form of respect for the fact they are afraid of you for the goals you might score against their teams and not because they hate you or they are racist.
True racism is a completely different story and all Italian football fans know it very well.
When you declare that racism is a problem to be fought in Italy you just help the repression against all football fans including us and you contribute to create a problem that is not really there, not in the way that is perceived in other countries.
We are very sensitive and inclusive with all people. We guarantee you that in our organization there are many fans of different races or fans coming from other parts of Italy that also use this ways to provocate their opponents even when the have the same races or are coming from the same areas.
Please help us to clarify what racism really is and that Italian fans are not racist.
The fight to REAL racism has to begin in schools not in the stadiums, fans are just fans and they behave in different ways when inside the stadium as opposed to when they are in real life.
I guarantee you that what they do or say to an opponent player of another race is not what they would ever say to someone they would meet in real life.
Italian fans may not be perfect and we can understand your frustration with this expressions but they are definitely not meant to be racist.
