Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi is facing an investigation over an alleged racist remark he made towards Napoli’s Juan Jesus during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at San Siro.
Jesus, 32, has alleged that Acerbi called him the N-word, and that he reported the incident to the referee, Federico La Penna. Acerbi has denied using racist language towards Jesus.
In his report of the gameweek, Serie A’s sports judge, Gerardo Mastrandrea, said he “considers it necessary for the Federal Prosecutor’s Office to investigate” what had happened between Acerbi and Jesus.
The match and alleged incident came during Serie A’s ‘Keep Racism Out’ campaign, spanning the previous round of fixtures and the next.
Following the alleged incident, Acerbi initially reported to the Italy national team camp in Rome on Monday but the Italian FA (FIGC) said it had been agreed that he would leave the squad following the incident in Sunday’s match “in order to let things settle for the national team and the player himself”. The 36-year-old was replaced by Roma’s Gianluca Mancini for their friendly games against Venezuela and Ecuador in the United States.
The FIGC’s statement on Monday added that he had explained to his team-mates and head coach Luciano Spalletti “his version of the alleged racist expression reported by Juan Jesus”.
“From (Acerbi’s) report, in waiting for what happened to be reconstructed in compliance with the autonomy of sporting justice, it emerged that there was no defamatory, denigrating or racist intent on his part,” the FIGC’s statement claimed.
Inter, meanwhile, said they have” taken note” of the FIGC’s statement and decision for Acerbi to return to the club. They added that they “will meet with the player as soon as possible to shed light on the exact details of what happened (on Sunday) night”.
When Acerbi returned to Milan from Rome on Monday, he was met with questions by reporters about the alleged incident.
“I didn’t say any racist words, I’m very calm, the only thing I can say is that no racist words came out of my mouth, that’s for sure,” Acerbi said, via Sky Italia.
Asked about an apology to Jesus, Acerbi added: “I apologised perhaps because we didn’t understand each other. I’ve been playing football for twenty years and I know what I’m saying, racist phrases don’t come and have never come out of my mouth.”
Jesus then posted a statement on social media, reiterating his belief that Acerbi had racially abused him.
“For me, the matter had been closed yesterday on the pitch with Acerbi’s apology and I sincerely would have preferred not to return to something as vile as what I had to endure,” Jesus said.
“Today, however, I read statements by Acerbi that are totally at odds with the reality of the facts, with what he himself said yesterday on the pitch and with the evidence also shown by unequivocal video footage and lips in which he asks for my forgiveness.
“So I won’t stand for it. Racism is fought here and now.
“Acerbi told me, ‘Go away black, you’re just a n*****’. After my protest to the referee he admitted he was wrong and apologised, adding: ‘For me, n***** is just another insult’.
“Today he changed his version and claims that there was no racist insult. I have nothing to add.”
As part of Serie A’s anti-racism campaign — which is in conjunction with UNAR (the Italian Office against Racial Discrimination of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers) — every player has the ‘Keep Racism Out’ patch on the right sleeve of their shirts, with coaches also supposed to wear a campaign sticker on their jackets and “read a short call against racism at the end of each match”. There are also anti-racism messages broadcast in the stadiums and on TV.
Sunday’s match between Inter and Napoli finished 1-1, with a late equaliser from Jesus cancelling out a first-half opener from Matteo Darmian.
(Top photos: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images, Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
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