Arteta slams penalty calls in loss to Inter Milan, says “I don’t understand the decision”
Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty and an organised defensive display gave Inter a hard-fought victory over Arsenal, their first Champions League defeat of the season.
After Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku alleged the Cagliari fans of abusing him during Monday’s 2-1 win, a group called ‘L’Urlo Della Nord’ said Lukaku has to understand that in Italy, fans have ways only to help their teams and to try to make opponents nervous and they do not believe themselves to be racist.
In a statement on Facebook, the group said: “Hi Romelu, we are writing you on behalf of Curva Nord, yes the guys who welcomed you at your arrival in Milan. We are really sorry you thought that what happened in Cagliari was racist.
“You have to understand that Italy is not like many other north European countries where racism is a real problem. We understand that it could have seemed racist to you but it is not like that.
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“In Italy we use some “ways” only to “help our teams” and to try to make our opponents nervous, not for racism but to mess them up.
“We are a multi-ethnic fans organisation and we have always welcomed players from everywhere. However, we have always used that ‘way’ with other teams’ players in the past and we probably will in the future.
“We are not racist and so are not the Cagliari fans.”
It is to note that on Monday, Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was allegedly subjected to monkey chants from Cagliari fans throughout the Serie A fixture, which Inter won 2-1.
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