Lautaro apologises after Audero Hit by firework: ‘Footballers are human too’

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez sent a public apology on behalf of the club to Emil Audero, who was struck by a firework during Sunday’s Serie A match between the Nerazzurri and Cremonese. 

Inter picked up a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Lautaro and Piotr Zielinski, but the game was temporarily halted five minutes into the second half in concerning scenes at the Stadio Zini. 

In the 50th minute, a firework was thrown onto the pitch from the area of the stadium containing the travelling Inter supporters. The firework landed on the pitch and exploded right next to Audero, who was later seen with a cut and burn mark around his knee. 

The Cremonese goalkeeper was cleared to continue and decided to stay on the pitch despite the troubling ordeal.

Inter captain Lautaro was among the first to see to Audero immediately after the firework had exploded, and later went on to express his apologies to his former teammate.

“These things can’t happen,” Lautaro told DAZN after full-time.

“There’s a personal risk. Footballers are human too. We put on a show that’s watched all over the world, so we have to be careful about these things. 

“We apologise to Audero, who was a winner with us when we claimed the second star, and we apologise to all the Cremonese fans. These things must not happen.” 

Lautaro who was awarded the player of the match: “This award will go in my daughter’s room,” he said. “It’s her birthday today. Now I hope to get back to Milan quickly and see her while she’s awake. The award and this shirt are for her.”