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Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has avoided a suspension for blasphemy after the captain settled on a fine with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) due to offensive language used during a loss to fierce rivals Juventus.
The Argentine striker Martinez has agreed to a payment of 5,000 euros ($5,463) as part of a plea deal with the FIGC, which prohibits using the Lord’s name in vain.
The 27-year-old had previously denied using profane language on two occasions during the 1-0 defeat in Turin, saying the week after, when he scored the decisive goal for Inter against Genoa, that “I have never done it, ever.”
“I try to teach respect to my children, these accusations have caused me great irritation,” he said.
Martinez is not the first player to be penalised under the FIGC’s anti-blasphemy regulations; goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon faced a one-match ban in March 2021 for being caught using foul language with Juventus teammate Manolo Portanova.
Monza goalkeeper Stefano Turati received the same penalty in August 2023 for blasphemous swearing during a loss to Napoli while playing for his former club Frosinone.
