NEWCASTLE United have lodged a formal complaint with UEFA against Christian Vieri, claiming the Inter Milan striker racially abused Lomana LuaLua in Tuesday's enthralling Champions League clash at the San Siro.

UEFA yesterday confirmed that their delegate at the Group A encounter received a complaint immediately after the game, which ended in a 2-2 draw after United had led twice through skipper Alan Shearer.

LuaLua was introduced as an 83rd-minute substitute for Nolberto Solano and squared up to Vieri, scorer of Inter's first goal, as Newcastle defended a free-kick in the dying moments.

Players from both sides joined in before Portuguese referee Lucilio Batista restored order.

But last night Vieri insisted he was innocent saying: ''Even though we were in a turbulent phase of the match, I didn't say any words of a racist nature.

''I just tried to distance the player by telling him to move back.''

However UEFA's disciplinary chiefs will launch an investigation into claims that Vieri, who speaks fluent English having been raised in Australia, made racist comments to Congo striker LuaLua.

A statement read: ''UEFA is to investigate allegations that Internazionale's Italian international striker, Christian Vieri, made racist remarks to Newcastle United's Lomana LuaLua during the UEFA Champions League match in Milan.

''European football's governing body said that Newcastle had made an official complaint to the UEFA delegate at the match, alleging that Vieri, had made comments to LuaLua two minutes before the end of the game.

''UEFA said that it would instigate disciplinary proceedings and investigate the alleged offence, and that a decision would most likely be taken on March 21, with any appeal dealt with on April 3 or 4.''

LuaLua was cautioned for his part in the incident, while Vieri had earlier picked up his third yellow card in this season's competition, ruling him out of his side's crucial trip to Bayer Leverkusen next week.

United's claims come after centre-back Titus Bramble was taunted with racist chants by Inter fans, and a flare was thrown into the massed ranks of Geordie supporters in the stadium.

There has been bad blood between the clubs since their initial meeting this season, when Craig Bellamy was sent off for lashing out at Inter defender Marco Materazzi in the Italians' 4-1 win.

Bellamy, who had already served a three-match ban for head-butting Dynamo Kiev defender Tiberiu Ghioane, was dismissed only five minutes into the St James' Park match in November.

And Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer was later convicted on video evidence of elbowing Fabio Cannavaro in the same game and handed a two-match suspension.

Inter's Uruguay striker Alvaro Recoba was banned for this week's return and will also be sidelined for the decider in Germany after being sent off in the 3-0 defeat in Barcelona last month.

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