FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has assured that he will intervene in the case of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, as he did with Romelu Lukaku. Both players were subject to racist abuse this season and were booked for their celebrations in the respective matches. Lukakau’s ban was overturned by Gravina, given the circumstances, and he was able to feature in the Coppa Italia semi-final against Juve the following week. Speaking at the “Il Foglio a San Siro” event, Gravina was asked about the ugly spectre of racism in Italian football and vowed to do all he can to help eradicate it, including intervening with Vlahovics’ case:
“Racism? There is a political, ethical and civic competence for which I take full responsibility, exercising it within the limits allowed by common sense and law. This is what I have done and what I will do if the same conditions occur in the Vlahovic case.”
“Our Federation and the whole world of sports is against all forms of racism, against racists, of whatever form and color, Lukaku and Vlahovic that they are, we do not distinguish between jerseys. We are all united to fight this scourge that has reappeared in an overbearing way.”
