IFF begins investigation into Zlatan, Lukaku clash

 

The Italian Football Federation has opened investigation into the near fracas situation that dented Coppa Italia derby between Ac and Inter Milan.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku who incidentally were former Manchester United teammates went for each other jugular in the match abusing themselves and their families and were heading for punch throwing before they were separated by teammates

They were both given yellow cards after an argument and a head-to-head clash between their pair just before half-time, which continued into the tunnel during the interval. Aside from that they have equally been given one match ban in the Coppa Italia

Referee Paolo Valeri was called in for questioning by prosecutor Giuseppe Chin to explain the punishment handed out during the Italian Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.

The pair could be seen and heard exchanging insults as Lukaku had to be restrained by his team-mates as he attempted to confront the Swedish forward.

Ibrahimovic, who had given Milan a first-half lead, was sent off after picking up a second yellow card after the break, before Christian Eriksen scored a stoppage-time winner for Inter to send them through with a 2-1 win.

Ibrahimovic was given the ban after being shown two yellow cards, one of them for the confrontation with Lukaku, who was banned because it was his second yellow card in this season’s Coppa Italia.

Lukaku will miss the first leg of the semi-finals against Juventus on Tuesday, while Ibrahimovic will have to sit out his next match in the competition.

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Ibrahimovic denied using racist language in the altercation.

In a social media post last Wednesday, the Swede said: “In Zlatan’s world there is no place for racism.”

The Football federation it is gathered is determined to get to the root of the squabble with a view to preventing a re-occurrence.