171 Juventus fans are BANNED after an investigation into the racist abuse directed at Romelu Lukaku

171 Juventus supporters have been banned by Italian police after an investigation into the racist abuse directed at Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku during the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg earlier this month.

The Belgian striker was subjected to monkey chants from a section of Juventus supporters behind the goal after he converted a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw 

Video footage showed Juventus fans chanting ‘f***ing monkey’ and ‘f*** off’ at Lukaku, who was shown a second yellow card and sent off for shushing them during his celebrations – with the referee deciding his gesture was provocative.

Inter appealed Lukaku’s ban but it was originally upheld by Italy’s Sports Court of Appeal, before the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, personally intervened and overturned the ban on Saturday as a measure to fight racism – meaning the striker can play in all-to-play-for Wednesday’s second leg.

After the decision to overturn his ban, Lukaku said: ‘I believe that thanks to his intervention justice has been done and this sends out a great message to the whole world of sport and beyond. This has shown that the desire is there to fight racism.’

After tucking away a stoppage time penalty, Lukaku celebrated by putting his finger to his mouth in the direction of Juventus fans – who chanted ‘f***ing monkey at him

The 171 supporters responsible for the racist chanting were identified as a result of videos and images of the crowd being examined. 

They will be subjected to the Daspo – effectively a stadium banning order – and will also be hit with fines for violating regulations in regards to orderly behaviour in stadiums.

The Daspo is a regulation which was originally put in place by Italian authorities to ban hooligans from football stadiums and is designed to prevent violence and anti-social behaviour surrounding sporting events.

Following news regarding the bans, a statement read: ‘There are 171 Juventus fans who will be subjected to the Daspo provision by the Turin Police Headquarters. 

‘It is the result of the investigation by the Digos (The General Investigations and Special Operations Division) in Turin, in the context of the fight against racial discrimination in sport, and is impressive work through audio and video.

‘This made it possible to identify those who, during Juventus vs Inter at the Allianz Stadium on April 4 in the semi-final of the Italian Cup, launched chants and howls addressed to the Inter player Lukaku. 

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina overturned Lukaku’s suspension as a measure to fight racism

‘According to reports, racial slurs were hurled by 250 people.’ 

More investigations are ongoing to identify the rest of those responsible for the chanting.

Meanwhile, after deciding to overturn the ban, the FIGC said in a statement that the report (of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office) indicated ‘unequivocally that the behaviour of the player sanctioned by the match director followed the serious and repeated displays of hatred and racial discrimination by the opposing fans.’

They added: ‘The measure reiterates how the fight against all forms of racism constitutes one of the founding principles of the sporting system.’