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

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.

CREMONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Goalkeeper Emil Audero of US Cremonese gets stunned by a firework during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giovanni Zini on February 01, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

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

Lautaro apologises to Audero on behalf of Inter

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.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 04: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Bologna FC 1909 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“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.”