Italian football fans have defended Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman after his fiery touchline spat with Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric overshadowed their 1-0 Champions League win over Marseille on Wednesday night.
Lazar Samardzic’s late strike sealed all three points for Atalanta at the Stade Vélodrome, but it was the tense moment between Juric and Lookman that dominated headlines after the game.
The flashpoint came in the 75th minute when Lookman, who had earlier seen a goal disallowed for offside, was substituted. As the 27-year-old walked toward the bench, Juric appeared to grab him by the arm, pulling him back in frustration. Lookman, visibly unhappy, exchanged words with his coach before being led away by staff members.
Reports from Sky Sport Italia later revealed that the disagreement continued after the final whistle, even as the rest of the team celebrated their victory.
The incident quickly drew reactions across the football community. Former Watford striker Troy Deeney didn’t mince words on CBS Sports, saying, “When you physically put your hands on somebody, at that point, you and I are not going to have a conversation again. There’s nothing you can say today, tomorrow, next week that makes me forget that you did that in front of everyone.”
Co-pundit Nigel Reo-Coker shared a similar view. “When it comes to responsibility in positions of power, Juric is completely in the wrong there,” he said.
“You, as a manager, cannot do that, regardless of what’s been said. You’re a football manager, managing Atalanta, and it’s being broadcast around the world. You can not do that. If you put your hands on a player physically like that, you’ve lost. Full stop.”
Supporters also rallied behind Lookman online according to Football Italia. One fan wrote, “Lookman didn’t deserve that,” while another added, “Not a good look, especially if you’re the coach.”
ACL Sports publisher Calvin Onwuka criticised Juric’s actions in stronger terms.
“You grab a player you replaced forcefully in front of a worldwide TV audience? You are even a rubbish manager. Ademola Lookman needs to make a statement right here and now: one of us has to go!” he said.
Bellnews reports that Juric later brushed off the altercation, insisting it was nothing out of the ordinary.
“It’s the usual thing we’ve been commenting on every Sunday,” the Atalanta boss said.
“Some players are not happy to be substituted, they don’t react well, and we sort these things out in the locker room. What matters is Atalanta, the club, the team and the fans. We do what is good for the team.”
The confrontation adds to the uncertainty surrounding Lookman’s future at Atalanta.
After a rocky start to the season and growing rumours about a possible January move, the coming weeks could determine whether the Super Eagles forward stays in Bergamo or seeks a new challenge elsewhere.