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CNN —US and AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah is used to hostility – passionate and aggressive crowds are part of the game after all. Instead, Italian soccer found itself in the midst of another alleged racism scandal – one that Musah was around to witness firsthand. “So it was really, really important that when we saw that, the whole team reacted great. Prior to joining Milan, Musah spent the first three years of his senior career with Spanish side Valencia. During a league match against Real Madrid in May last year, a Valencia fan subjected opposing forward Vinícius Jr. to persistent racist abuse.

Persons: Yunus Musah, “ We’re, ” Musah, Darren Lewis, Mike Maignan, Noah Okafor, Musah, Mike, “, ”, ” Maignan, Fabio Maresca, Maignan, Romelu, Vinícius, Pablo Morano, Reuters Musah, ” “, they’re, Omar Beckles, George Floyd, Germany's Leon Goretzka, Mike Lawrence, “ We’d, ’ ”, Milan Women’s Christy Grimshaw, You’ve, “ We’ll Organizations: CNN, US, AC Milan, Soccer, Serie, Udinese, Milan, ” Udinese, Serie A, Ciancaphoto, Udinese Calcio, Italian, Roma, Spanish, Real Madrid, Reuters, England’s, ’ Association, Getty, Milan’s, ” Locations: Italy, Lazio, “, Valencia, New York, London, England

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan says too many people are “complicit” in allowing racism to continue blighting soccer, and urged authorities to take stronger action after he suffered racist abuse on Saturday night. It's not the first time it's happened to me and I'm not the first person it's happened to,” Maignan wrote in French on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The fans in the stands, who saw everything, who heard everything but decided to stay quiet, you are complicit,” Maignan continued on X. Enough is enough.”Maignan, whose brilliant performances helped Milan win the Serie A title in 2022, praised those who helped him to cope. "We reaffirm our aversion to any form of discrimination and express our profound solidarity with the AC Milan player Mike Maignan in light of Saturday’s deplorable incident at our stadium.

Persons: Mike Maignan, Maignan, DAZN, “ It's, It's, I'm, ” Maignan, “ We've, ”, Prince Boateng, Mario Balotelli, Lukaku, Gianni Infantino, Kylian Mbappé, ” Mbappé, “ Organizations: MILAN, — AC Milan, Udinese, Serie, FIFA, Maignan, Milan, AC Milan, ” Udinese, “ Udinese Locations: Italy

☆ AC Milan football match delayed in Italy after alleged racist chants from crowd
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Joe Mccurdy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —AC Milan’s French goalkeeper Mike Maignan led his team off the pitch Saturday due to alleged racist chants directed toward him by opposing fans at Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy. The incident occurred during an Italian Serie A match against Udinese in the 33rd minute. Mike Maignan of AC Milan speaks with referee Fabio Maresca during the Serie A match with Udinese on January 20. The match resumed less than 10 minutes later, and Milan would win a dramatic encounter 3-2 in the final minutes. After the match, Milan supported Maignan with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “There is absolutely no place in our game for racism: we are appalled.

Persons: Mike Maignan, “, ” Maignan, Maignan, Fabio Maresca, Alessandro Sabattini, Mike, ”, Romelu Organizations: CNN, AC Milan’s, Bluenergy, Udinese, Sky Sports, Milan, Serie, Maignan, Lega Serie, Lazio, Italian, Roma Locations: Udine, Italy, Italian, Milan

ROME (AP) — José Mourinho is leaving Roma “with immediate effect,” the club announced Tuesday — ending an at times successful but also turbulent stay in the Italian capital for the veteran coach. Mourinho was in his third season at Roma and his contract was due to expire in June. He led the Giallorossi to the UEFA Conference League title in his first season and Roma was a Europa League finalist last season. “AS Roma can confirm that José Mourinho and his coaching staff will leave the club with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement. “Arrivederci, Roma,” Mourinho said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, next to a photo of him carrying the Conference League trophy.

Persons: — José Mourinho, Roma, Mourinho, —, José Mourinho, ”, Dan, Ryan Friedkin, “, ” Roma, Daniele De Rossi, Antonio Conte, “ Arrivederci, ” Mourinho, Paulo Dybala, Lukaku, ___ Organizations: ROME, Roma, AC Milan, Serie, League, Lazio, Italian, UEFA Conference League, Europa League, UEFA, Sevilla, Milan, “ AS Roma, AS Roma, ”, Twitter, Conference League, Porto, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Chelsea, Real, Stadio Olimpico Locations: Saudi Arabia, Roma, Real Madrid, Portuguese

☆ Ronaldo scores as Portugal beat Liechtenstein 2-0
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net to help Portugal beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Group J clash on Thursday as the 38-year-old tied Belgium's Romelu Lukaku as the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign's top scorer. With their spot for the finals already secured, Portugal are on top of their group on 27 points, eight ahead of second-placed Slovakia. Liechtenstein are bottom with no points after nine games. Ronaldo extended his lead as the all-time top scorer in international soccer by moving up to 128 goals in 204 matches. Joao Cancelo extended their lead in the 56th minute, taking advantage of a blunder by goalkeeper Benjamin Buechel, who was out of position, to striked into the empty net.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lukaku, Roberto Martinez, Diogo Jota's, Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo, Benjamin Buechel, Fernando Kallas, Julien Pretot Organizations: Portugal, Liechtenstein, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, striked

☆ Last two Scudetto winners come face to face as Napoli host Milan
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Trevor Stynes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oct 26 (Reuters) - This weekend's Serie A fixtures pit the last two Scudetto winners against each other, as defending champions Napoli host AC Milan on Sunday. Inter Milan were first to break Juve's stronghold in 2021, followed by their rivals Milan, before Napoli finally won their third Scudetto last season, and first without Diego Maradona. Now, those three sides, along with Juventus, are battling it out for this season's league title, and the Diego Armando Maradona stadium will see Napoli attempt to stay in the title race against Milan. Verona who won their opening two games, have picked up just two points in the seven games since then. Lazio have already lost four league games this season, but have now won their last two, taking them to 10th in the standings, and on Monday they host high-flying Fiorentina.

Persons: Diego Maradona, Diego Armando Maradona, Rudi Garcia, Garcia, Victor Osimhen, Khvicha, Romelu Lukaku, Jose Mourinho won't, Mourinho, Roma, Trevor Stynes, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Napoli, AC Milan, Sunday, Juventus, Inter Milan, Milan, Inter, Torino, Juve's, Hellas Verona, Champions League, Georgian, Verona, Tuesday's Champions, Union Berlin, MOURINHO, AS Roma, San, Monza, Juve, Lazio, Fiorentina, Empoli, Thomson Locations: Naples, San Siro, Portuguese, Napoli

☆ Liverpool thump Toulouse 5-1, Brighton earn first European win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The rest of the match belonged to Liverpool as Wataru Endo headed them back in front just past the half-hour mark. That goal took the Egyptian's tally to 43 for Liverpool in major European competitions, a record for any player at an English club. Liverpool top the group by five points over Union Saint Gilloise and Toulouse, who both have four points. BRIGHTON ROCKBrighton achieved a European milestone by beating Ajax and reigniting their chances of reaching the knockout stages. They are now level on four points with second-placed AEK Athens in Group B, a point behind Olympique de Marseille.

Persons: Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah, LASK, Cameron Puertas, Christian Burgess, Joao Pedro, Diant Ramaj, Ansu Fati, Maurice Steijn, Kostas Fortounis, Rodinei's, Angelo Ogbonna, Angelo Ogbonna . West Ham, Lucas Paqueta's, Edoardo Bove, Romelu Lukaku, Jose Mourinho's, Alejandro Grimaldo, Stade Rennais, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Liverpool, Brighton, Ajax, Olympiakos, West, Marseille, Leverkusen, Rennes, LIVERPOOL, Toulouse, Europa League, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, Union Saint Gilloise, Union, BRIGHTON ROCK Brighton, AEK Athens, Olympique de Marseille, AEK, Seagulls, Olympiakos Piraeus, Europa Conference League, West Ham United, Freiburg, Backa Topla, AS Roma, Slavia Prague, Slavia, Bayer Leverkusen thumped Qarabag, Stade, Panathinaikos, Villarreal, Maccabi Haifa, Thomson Locations: Roma, England, Anfield, Brighton, Liverpool, Toulouse, Europe, Angelo Ogbonna . West, Gdansk

☆ Lukaku backs Belgium return for Courtois after spat with coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Belgium's stand-in captain Romelu Lukaku said he would welcome Thibaut Courtois back into the national team with open arms after the goalkeeper walked out of the squad in June. Courtois tore knee ligaments and underwent surgery in August, delaying any resolution, but earlier this week Belgium fullback Timothy Castagne said he did not think Courtois could return to the squad without any explanation. “The day Thibaut decides to return, he will simply return. You know, I would like to call on the media not to constantly write that Thibaut Courtois or any other player said this or did that. Lukaku was chosen ahead of Courtois as captain in June, standing in for the injured Kevin De Bruyne.

Persons: Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Courtois, Domenico Tedesco, Timothy Castagne, “, ”, Thibaut, “ Thibaut, Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Castagne, I've, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Estonia, Real Madrid, Austria, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Belgium, Vienna, Paris

☆ Top of the table clash gives Milan derby extra edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Trevor Stynes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The match at the San Siro will be the first time since 1962 that the Milan sides meet while top of the table. But this Milan side are a different proposition from the team who put up such a disappointing defence of their league title last season. Preparations for the derby will mostly come down to the last few days with most of their starting players returning from international duty. Milan have a concern over Giroud after he went off injured in France's win over Ireland last week but are hopeful he can recover. Jose Mourinho's AS Roma, with just one point from three games, will try to kick-start their season when they host Empoli on Sunday.

Persons: Stefano Pioli, Massimo Pinca, San Siro, Stefano Pioli's, Tijjani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Pulisic, Rafael Leao, Loftus, Reijnders, Milan, Sandro Tonali, Olivier Giroud's, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Simone Inzaghi, Romelu, Eden Dzeko, Marcus Thuram, Luka Jovic, Fikayo Timori, Simon Kjaer, Jose Mourinho's, Trevor Stynes, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer, Juventus, AC Milan, Allianz, Milan, Inter, Serie, Napoli, Lazio, San, Fiorentina, Champions League, Serie A's, France's, Ireland, Juve, Genoa, Lecce, Jose Mourinho's AS Roma, Empoli, Thomson Locations: Turin, Italy, Saturday's Milan, Milan, Newcastle, Monza

Scott McTominay moved ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane as the joint leading scorer in European Championship qualifying with Scotland on the brink of securing a place at next year's tournament. Manchester United midfielder McTominay claimed his sixth goal in qualifying for Euro 2024 as Scotland stayed ahead of Spain in the group on a maximum 15 points after five straight wins. Scotland needs two more points to ensure its place at the tournament, which will be held in Germany. McTominay has also been involved in more goals than any other player during qualifying, having provided one assist. He made history by overtaking Real Madrid and Wales great Gareth Bale as the youngest scorer in European qualifying.

Persons: Scott McTominay, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, McTominay, Lamine Yamal, Spain —, Rasmus Hojlund, Romelu, Ronaldo, Kane, Steve Clarke, “ He’s, “, Ryan Porteous, John McGinn, Gareth Bale, Bale, Yamal, Gavi, ” Yamal, Alvaro Morata’s, Bruno Fernandes, It's, Roberto Martinez, Luxembourg's, Bruno Petković, Turkey, Bertug Yildirim, ___ James Robson Organizations: Scotland, Spain, Georgia . Manchester United, AEK Arena, Georgia, Real Madrid, Wales, Slovakia, Portugal's, Portuguese, Iceland, Latvia, Armenia Locations: Cyprus, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Scotland, Larnaca, Norway, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Bosnia, Herzegovina, CROATIA, Croatia, Turkey

☆ Windrush Day: Manchester United great Andy Cole opens up about Jamaican roots and racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Darren Lewis | James Oware | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On one of the first voyages, 492 Caribbean islanders onboard the HMT Empire Windrush arrived in the UK on June 22, 1948. That generation of immigrants became the namesake of that ship, and their arrival date is now celebrated as Windrush Day. However, Cole says racist abuse and a lack of acknowledgement for his achievements meant that in adulthood, he recognized his father was right. Speaking on the inevitability of racist abuse that Black footballers face when missing penalties Andy outlined, “I think we’re just waiting, okay, what’s happening on social media? A clinical striker in his playing career, maybe one day Andy can transfer his wealth of knowledge to the boardroom.

Persons: Andy Cole, “, Darren Lewis, Cole reminisced, ” Andy, Windrush, Cole’s, Cole, Douglas Miller, ” Cole, Norma Gregory, Lincoln, ”, Caribbeans, Mark Leech, Andy, Devante, George Wood, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Vinícius, Romelu, Tom Jenkins, Vinicius Organizations: CNN, League, Champions League, CNN’s, Commonwealth, Caribbean, Hulton, Coal Miners, Heritage, English League, Barnsley, English, England, Inter Milan, FIFA, UEFA, Italy, Real Locations: Britain, Nottingham, Jamaica, Commonwealth, Runnymede, British, England, Real Madrid, Italian, Brazil, European

☆ Man City 1-0 Inter Milan: Rodri's goal wins Champions League final as Pep Guardiola's team complete treble
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Adam Bate | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ilkay Gundogan (C) of Manchester City lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match against Inter at Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Manchester City completed the treble with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul. Having already overhauled Arsenal to retain the Premier League trophy and beaten Manchester United to lift the FA Cup at Wembley, this victory saw them match the achievement of their city rivals in 1999. City's task was made more difficult when Kevin De Bruyne trudged off injured in the first half, the second time in three seasons that he has departed a Champions League final with the game in the balance. The midfielder measured his finish, bending it beyond two Inter defenders and into the corner of the net to break the deadlock.

Persons: Ilkay Gundogan, Federico Dimarco, Ederson, Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne trudged, Rodri, Erling Haaland, Lukaku, Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez, Manuel Akanji, Guardiola, Akanji, Bernardo Silva Organizations: Manchester City, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Champions, Inter, Ataturk, Inter Milan, Champions League, Ataturk Olympic, Arsenal, Premier League, Manchester United, Wembley, Guardiola Locations: Manchester, Istanbul, Rodri's, Romelu Lukaku, City, Europe, Turkey

☆ Manchester City wins Champions League for first time, beating Inter Milan 1-0 in tense Istanbul final
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This was not only a night when City won its first Champions League. In beating three-time champion Inter, Pep Guardiola’s side became only the second English team to achieve the treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season. Rodri pictured scoring the winner which secured City the Champions League trophy. Manchester City has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League this season. Will City dominate the Champions League like it has the Premier League?

Persons: Manchester City’s, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Pep, Alex Ferguson, Shaun Botterill, Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, André Onana, Nicolò Barella, Ederson, Rodri, Federico Dimarco’s, Romelu Lukaku, Catherine Ivill, Sheikh Mansour –, –, ” Guardiola, Guardiola, “, ”, Martin Rickett, Abu, Umit Bektas, Jack Grealish, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Manchester, Abu Dhabi United Group, Champions League, Inter Milan, City, Inter, Premier League, FA, Manchester United, City . Manchester City, League, Monaco, Tottenham, Real Madrid, BT Sport, Inter’s, Etihad, Reuters Locations: Istanbul, Europe, City . Manchester, Liverpool, Lyon, Chelsea, Manchester City, Abu Dhabi, Will City, Barcelona

☆ Jubilant Man City overcome Inter to complete the treble
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/17] Soccer Football - Champions League Final - Manchester City v Inter Milan - Manchester City fans at Manchester's 4TheFans Fan Park for the Champions League Final - Manchester, Britain - June 10, 2023 Manchester City fans celebrate after winning the Champions League final Action Images via... Read moreSummary City beat Inter 1-0 to win club's first Champions LeagueRodri scores 68th minute winner for Guardiola's sideVictory completes treble with FA Cup and Premier LeagueISTANBUL, June 10 (Reuters) - Manchester City finally expanded their domestic domination across the continent as they beat Inter Milan 1-0 with a second-half Rodri goal to win the Champions League for the first time and complete a rare treble on a nervous Saturday evening. An eruption of joy greeted the final whistle with City's players sprinting towards their fans in the Ataturk Stadium. It belongs to us," said City manager Pep Guardiola. City may have experienced a horrible sense of deja vu as chief playmaker De Bruyne also failed to finish the final two years ago when City fell short against Chelsea. It was City's night, and the celebrations will be long and loud, while for Inter there was no repeat of their surprise 2010 win over Bayern Munich.

Persons: club's, Ederson, Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne, De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Guardiola, City's, Sheikh Mansour, Noel, Liam Gallagher, jinx, Simone Inzaghi's, Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Haaland, Andre Onana, Manuel Akanji, Lautaro Martinez, selfishly, Romelu, Bernardo Silva, Federico Dimarco, Edin Dzeko, Lukaku, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer Football, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Champions, League, City, Inter, FA Cup, Premier League ISTANBUL, Premier League, FA, Champions League, Manchester, Chelsea, BT Sport, Oasis, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Roma, Sevilla, Europa League, Fiorentina, West Ham United, Europa Conference, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, Spanish, Barcelona, Real, Liverpool, Porto, Brazilian

CNN —Inter Milan and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku says the world’s top soccer stars could form a union to tackle racist abuse in the sport. Speaking exclusively to CNN, Lukaku says authorities are currently not doing enough to protect players in the wake of yet more racist abuse aimed at Vinícius Jr. during Real Madrid’s match against Valencia last month. “I think it will start,” Lukaku told CNN’s Senior Sports Analyst Darren Lewis when asked whether players could form a union. “That’s where you need to start, that’s where we need to have diversity,” Lukaku said of the upper echelons of the sport. “I think that’s how it should happen,” Lukaku added.

Persons: Romelu Lukaku, Lukaku, Vinícius Jr, ” Lukaku, Darren Lewis, “, FIFA ”, “ It’s, Vinícius, Marco Bertorello, Senegal’s, Samoura, Rwanda’s Martin Ngoga, Ghana’s Anin Yeboah, India’s, Mugdal Organizations: CNN — Inter Milan, CNN, Valencia, Inter Milan, Juventus, CNN’s, UEFA, FIFA, La Liga, Getty, ”, Belgian, Board, Twitter Locations: Belgium, AFP, Belgian, European

Playing in a Champions League is the pinnacle for any player in club soccer and when asked what this moment would mean to his grandfather, Lukaku is almost unable to answer. He was my biggest fan.”As a child growing up in Belgium, Lukaku missed 10 years of watching the Champions League. “I couldn’t watch (the Champions League final), but now, by the grace of God, I can play one,” he adds. Manchester City has swept all before it in a light blue wave this season and sits on the cusp of a ‘treble,’ fresh from winning the Premier League title and the FA Cup. “Man City is a well-drilled team…Guardiola is such a good coach because every game is a different game plan,” Lukaku observes.

Persons: “, ” Lukaku, Darren Lewis, ”, Lukaku, …, Erling Haaland, Lexy Ilsley, Messi, Ronaldo, … Guardiola, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Belgian, Anderlecht, Chelsea, Serie, Inter Milan, Champions League, League, ’, FC Milan, Coppa Italia, ” Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Porto, Benfica, AC Milan, Manchester City, Premier League, FA Locations: Belgium, Barcelona, Manchester

☆ Martinez deals knockout blow as Inter reach Champions League final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

I felt it, we did a great job in both games," said Martinez, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December. "Playing in the Champions League final is a dream. Inter coach Simone Inzaghi fielded an unchanged team from the first leg, with Martinez and Dzeko up front, having rested players in Serie A over the weekend. And never before in their history had they gone four games in a row without finding the net against Inter. The real disappointment would be not playing in the Champions League next year."

☆ Analysis: Napoli revive memories of Maradona with Serie A title win
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Tommy Lund | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

May 4 (Reuters) - Napoli clinched the Serie A title on Thursday with five games to spare as they ended a 33-year drought stretching back to when Diego Maradona led them to the Scudetto in 1990. At the start of the season it would have been difficult to envisage Napoli becoming champions ahead of heavyweights such as Juventus and the two Milan clubs not to mention AS Roma. But after an exceptional transfer window and with Luciano Spalletti at the helm, Napoli dominated the title race while their main rivals all suffered slumps during the season. CONTENDERS FALTERAs Napoli surged ahead, suffering just one loss by the end of February, the other title contenders withered away as injuries plagued their squads. But Maurizio Sarri's side could only watch as Napoli became the fourth different team to win Serie A in as many years.

☆ Juventus fans to be barred for racist abuse of Lukaku
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, April 24 (Reuters) - The Italian authorities will impose stadium bans on 171 Juventus fans found to have chanted racist abuse at Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku during a Coppa Italia semi-final earlier this month, police said on Monday. Lukaku was subjected to abuse during the first leg at Juventus "before, during, and after the penalty" he scored to earn Inter a 1-1 draw, the player's representatives said. The police did not specify the length of the bans that the fans would face for the offence. Inter fans also taunted their Juventus rivals during the game with chants referring to the 1985 Heysel stadium disaster, police added. Lukaku was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for his goal celebration during which he held his finger up to his mouth to silence Juventus fans.

☆ Lukaku's ban overturned in statement against racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 22 (Reuters) - Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku will play in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Juventus on Wednesday after his one-match ban was overturned on Saturday by the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as a measure to fight racism. However, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina overturned the suspension after evaluating the report of the Federal Prosecutor's Office, the federation said. "The measure reiterates how the fight against all forms of racism constitutes one of the founding principles of the sporting system," it said. Lukaku was happy with the decision, saying the president had shown great sensitivity to the situation. "This has shown that the desire is there to fight racism."

☆ Inter disappointed as Lukaku ban upheld despite racist abuse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 21 (Reuters) - Inter Milan expressed their disappointment after a one-match ban for striker Romelu Lukaku was upheld on Friday, saying the player has been punished despite being racially abused in their Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus. Lukaku, who was sent off in the first leg of the semi-final, will remain suspended for the return against Juventus on Wednesday after the club's appeal was rejected by Italy's Sports Court Of Appeal. The Belgian striker was subjected to racial abuse during the first leg at Juventus "before, during, and after the penalty" he had scored to earn Inter a 1-1 draw, the player's representatives said. Juventus were ordered to close the Tribuna Sud section of their stadium after racist chants were heard coming from that area, a ban which was later overturned following the club's appeal. Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Juventus stadium ban for Lukaku abuse overturned
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Wednesday that all areas of the Allianz Stadium would be open after the sanction originally imposed by the sports judge had been annulled. Juventus were hit with the partial stadium closure after racist chants aimed at Lukaku were heard during their 1-1 first leg draw against Inter in the Coppa Italia. Italian news agency ANSA reported that Juve banned two fans from their stadium after video footage of the incident went viral. The club have appealed against the sanction and a decision is expected shortly. Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UEFA Champions League: Erling Haaland breaks another scoring record as Manchester City humbles Bayern Munich
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Norwegian superstar found the target yet again on Tuesday as Manchester City beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal at the Etihad Stadium. It’s yet another chapter in the 22-year-old’s astonishing debut season at City, which currently sees him top scorer in both the Premier League and Champions League. When we have the momentum, we are clinical.”Haaland scores his side's third goal during the Champions League quarterfinal first-leg. Tim Goode/APTuesday’s win was a major statement from City which looks serious about winning its first ever Champions League title this season. We need to understand and swallow this kind of defeat.”Elsewhere, Inter Milan beat Benfica 2-0 in Tuesday’s other Champions League quarterfinal first leg – Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku getting the goals.

☆ Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea sign midfielder in £106.8m British-record transfer deal from Benfica
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chelsea had been in talks to sign the World Cup winner throughout January, but Benfica had refused to do business unless the Blues paid his €120m release clause. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesChelsea have signed midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a British-record £106.8m. The deal for the Argentine surpasses the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish from Aston Villa 18 months ago. But Chelsea agreed a deal of €121m at 9.15pm on Deadline Day after 12 hours of talks led by Chelsea's co-owner Behdad Eghbali from London. Fernandez will help to replace Jorginho, who joined Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal on Deadline Day in a £12m deal.

☆ Analysis: Streetwise Croatia ride their luck into last 16
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 37-year-old Modric pulled the strings early on as Croatia went for the goal that would have spared their nerves later in a subdued Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. GOOD FORTUNEGoing deep in a World Cup requires good fortune, but Croatia used up a large dollop of it against a misfiring Belgium side. Had Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Kovacic taken chances to kill off Belgium in the second half, Croatia would have won Group F rather than finish second behind Morocco. And then there is the fact that when Croatia do make it out of the group stage at a World Cup they tend to go far. This is their sixth World Cup and on the two other occasions they avoided a group exit they finished third in 1998 and second in 2018.

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