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Kessie and Lukaku subjected to more racism in Italy

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale  during the Serie A match

STADIO GIUSEPPE MEAZZA, MILANO, ITALY - 2019/09/14: Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio. Fc Internazionale wins 1-0 over Udinese Calcio. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)

LightRocket via Getty Images

MILAN (AP) AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku reportedly have been subjected to more racism in Italy.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Hellas Verona supporters aimed offensive chants at Kessie during the first half of a 1-0 loss to Milan on Sunday night.

The Italian sports newspaper adds that the chants continued during halftime.

Kessie, an Ivory Coast international who is black, was also subjected to racist chants by Inter Milan and Lazio fans last season.

Also Sunday, a commentator on Italian TV, Luciano Passirani, was immediately suspended for a racist comment directed at Lukaku.

Speaking on the “Qui Studio a Voi Stadio” show, Passirani started off by saying, “I don’t see any other player in Italy now like Lukaku. ... I really like him,” before adding, “the only way to stop him is to say, `Here are 10 bananas that you can eat.”’

Lukaku, who is also black, was targeted with monkey chants by Cagliari fans this month. The league judge has not decided yet whether or not Cagliari should be punished.

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