Napoli defender Juan Jesus lashed out at Francesco Acerbi on Monday after denying he had been forced to leave the Azzurri’s training camp ahead of two friendlies in the United States. Jesus initially played down the incident following Napoli’s 1-1 draw with Inter Milan on Sunday, telling DAZN after accepting Acerbi’s on-field apology for the unspecified insult. Whatever happens, it stays on the court.”
Brazilian Jesus, who headed a late equalizer at Napoli’s San Siro, was seen protesting to referee Federico Lapena, pointing to the “No Racism” badge on his shirt and apparently saying “(A Chelby) called me a black person.”
Acerby left the Italy training camp and was replaced by Roma centre-back Gianluca Mancini for Italy’s games against Venezuela and Ecuador following reports that he would be investigated for alleged abuse. The 28-man squad was selected before the game in preparation for Italy’s defense of the European title.
He insisted he “didn’t say anything racist” on his return to Milan, echoing what his agent Federico Pastorello told radio station Sport earlier on Monday.
This prompted an angry reaction from Jesus on Instagram: “I thought it was over on the pitch and frankly I hope something so vile doesn’t have to happen again.”
Jesus added: “However, the comments from Acerby that I read today are completely contradictory to what happened, to what he himself said on the pitch and the video clip of him asking for my forgiveness. It also proves this.”
“I don’t agree that fighting racism is here and now. Acerbi said to me ‘go away, black man, you are just a black man’… Now he has changed his position and claims that racism does not exist.”
Jesus’ reaction is bad news for Acerby, as the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) stipulates that he will be banned for at least 10 games if he is found guilty of racially abusing Brazilians.
The authorities can ask for a longer ban if they deem his actions worthy.
A guilty verdict would surely end his club season with Inter Milan, who would win their 20th Scudetto and move 14 points ahead of AC Milan with nine games remaining.
The disciplinary authority is likely to insist that any final ban should be extended globally, starting in the euro on June 14.
Serie A told AFP that a regular report from the division’s “sports judge” Gerardo Mastrandrea will be released on Tuesday.
The document, which is usually released the day after each match ends, should confirm whether Acerbi will be investigated over the incident.
Inter Milan said in a brief statement that they “will meet with the player as soon as possible to understand the specific details of what happened”.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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