Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport has drawn widespread criticism after labelling the meeting between Inter’s Romelu Lukaku and Roma’s Chris Smalling as ‘Black Friday’ on their front page.
The two former Manchester United teammates will come up against each other in Friday’s Serie A clash with the front page lead the latest racism storm to hit Italian football.
The anti-discrimination Fare network tweeted a picture of the front page along with the message: "The media fuels racism every day."
Lukaku has already been the victim of vile chants just four months into his Inter career, subjected to racial abuse as he scored the penalty that earned new club Inter victory at Cagliari in September.
A football pundit was subsequently banned from an Italian TV station after making a shocking racist comment about Lukaku.
Luciano Passirani said of the former Manchester United striker: "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..."
Both Lukaku and Smalling have enjoyed excellent starts to life in Serie A – the Belgium international has 10 goals in 14 appearances for the Nerazzurri while Smalling has become a key member of the Roma defence since his arrival in the capital.
