The Italian Football Federation indicated that it will study the radio communications between the referee and the VAR, with the aim of investigating the alleged racist insults by the Inter defender Francesco Acerbi towards the Brazilian Napoli footballer Juan Jesus.
In images of the match played last Sunday in Serie A, you can see a verbal exchange between the two and then the Brazilian protesting to the referee for the alleged use of racist insults. After the duel, Jesus, scorer of the visiting team’s goal ten minutes from time, said that Acerbi “crossed the line,” but that both had clarified things.
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However, after being disaffected from the Italian team for this episode, Acerbi stated that “racist phrases never came out” of his mouth. Given this, Jesus accused him of changing his version of what happened and insisted that the insult existed.
“For me the issue was closed yesterday (Sunday) in the field and I sincerely would have preferred not to return to something as vile as what I had to suffer. But today I read statements from Acerbi that totally contradict the reality of the events, with what he said yesterday on the field of play and with the evidence also shown by images and unmistakable lips in which he asks for forgiveness,” explained the Brazilian in a post on Instagram.
¡En Napoli le decimos NO al racismo! #KeepRacismOutpic.twitter.com/912cgbMQav
— Oficial SSC Napoli (@sscnapoliES) March 19, 2024
“After having knowledge of the arbitration report, the sports judge considers it necessary for the federation prosecutor to investigate in order to clarify what happened in reference to the alleged expressions of racial discrimination,” the Italian Football League said in a statement.
Curiously, the 29th day of Serie A was dedicated to the fight against racism and all the players wore a t-shirt with the inscription “Keep Racism Out”.
