Italian Football Pundit Sacked For Racist Lukaku Comments

Luciano Passirani was apparently commending the former Manchester United striker on TopCalcio24 TV when he soiled the praise with racist comments.

Lukaku, who has scored two goals in three games for Inter Milan, was in action as Antonio Conte’s side emerged 1-0 victors over Udinese at the weekend to lead the Italian Serie A table.

Passirani said: "I don't see in the Italian league a player like Lukaku in any team, not in AC Milan, Inter, Rome, Lazio.

"He's one of the strongest and I like him a lot because he's one of the strongest, he's at least twice as strong as (Duvan) Zapata from Atalanta.

"These players have something more than the others, these are the guys who make the goals and drag the team.

"If they go one-on-one with you you're dead, you fall to the ground. The only way to out-muscle him is to give him ten bananas to eat."

Passirani thereafter tried to clarify his comments as a joke gone wrong and duly apologised, but the harm had already been done.

The station’s director Fabio Ravezzani also issued a public apology and confirmed that Passirani would not be making a return as a pundit.

Lukaku has been in Italy for barely a month but this is the second time the Belgian has been at the receiving end of racism.

The 26-year-old was racially chanted at as he prepared to take a penalty against Cagliari in Inter Milan’s last game before the international break.