Lukaku provokes Donnarumma amid boos in Rome before the whistle

On Friday evening, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Belgian Romelu Lukaku was booed by Lazio supporters even before kickoff, responded on the pitch and saw his exchange with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma end with two yellow cards.

Hostile welcome at the Stadio Olimpico

From the warm‑up, Lukaku was booed from the stands behind one of the Stadio Olimpico goals, where the Lazio ultras chanted insults. The shouting continued every time the Belgian striker touched the ball, creating a tense atmosphere from the first minutes.

The tension between the two players quickly rose during the match. Lukaku demanded silence from Donnarumma with a gesture, then held up two fingers towards the goalkeeper, an act perceived as provocative. The nickname “Big Rom” circulated among the supporters during the incident.

The gesture may have recalled the Serie A titles that Lukaku won with Inter and Napoli, whereas Donnarumma has none since his spell at AC Milan. The incident fueled verbal exchanges between the two protagonists.

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Confrontation and sanctions

At the end of the match, Donnarumma approached Lukaku to demand explanations. The referee had to intervene quickly to prevent the dispute from escalating further.

Both men each received a yellow card for their behaviour. This sanction officially put an end to the confrontation on the pitch.

Some Lazio ultras groups are known for their neo‑Nazi sympathies, but no evidence has been presented linking the insults to those beliefs or to Lukaku’s skin colour. The atmosphere nevertheless remains charged around the Belgian player.

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Meanwhile, the Red Devils beat Italy 0‑2 thanks to goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio, before preparing to face France on Monday at the King Baudouin Stadium. Lukaku and his teammates hope to confirm this victory in Italy.