Footballers Condemn ‘Black Friday’ Headline In Italian Newspaper

Corriere dello Sport editor Ivan Zazzaroni subsequently posted a statement on his paper’s website, claiming the writer’s intention was to celebrate the “magnificent wealth of diversity” in football.

Zazzaroni wrote: “‘Black Friday’, for those who want to understand it and can understand it, was only praising diversity, taking pride in the magnificent wealth of diversity. If you don’t understand it, it’s because you can’t do that.

“It’s an innocent article, perfectly argued by (journalist) Roberto Perrone, that has been made poisonous by those who have poison inside them.”

Roma later released a joint statement with AC Milan, Inter’s co-tenants at San Siro, announcing Corriere dello Sport has been banned from both clubs’ training facilities for the rest of 2019.

Inter tweeted: “Football is passion, culture and brotherhood. We are and will always be against all forms of discrimination.”

Lukaku and Brescia forward Mario Balotelli are among those to make allegations of being racially abused by supporters during Serie A games this season.

Only last week all 20 clubs in Italy’s top tier signed an open letter which called on “all those who love Italian football” to unite to try to eradicate the “serious problem”.