The reaction of Juan Jesus presents concerning implications for Francesco Acerbi, as per regulations stipulated by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). According to these regulations, should Acerbi be found culpable of racially abusing the Brazilian player, he faces a minimum ban of 10 matches.
Following Napoli defender Juan Jesus’s late equalizing goal against Inter Milan on Sunday, he expressed discontent with Francesco Acerbi’s denial of racially abusive behavior. Acerbi’s denial prompted Jesus to draw attention to the incident during the match, notably by pointing to the “Keep Racism Out” badge on his shirt and alleging that Acerbi had directed racial slurs towards him, specifically stating, “(Acerbi) called me a negro.”
Subsequently, Acerbi was compelled to depart Italy’s training camp amidst reports of an impending investigation regarding the alleged abuse. Roma center-back Gianluca Mancini replaced him in the squad for upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador, scheduled as part of Italy’s preparations for the European tournament.
Acerbi, upon his return to Milan, reiterated his stance, asserting that he “didn’t say anything racist,” echoing remarks made earlier by his agent Federico Pastorello to broadcaster Radio Sportiva.
In response, Jesus expressed his indignation on Instagram, emphasizing his commitment to combating racism and highlighting what he perceived as a contradiction in Acerbi’s statements. Jesus stated, “Acerbi said to me ‘get lost black, you’re just a negro’… now he’s changed tack and claims that there was no racism.”
The potential repercussions for Acerbi are significant, as FIGC regulations dictate severe penalties for racial misconduct, potentially jeopardizing his participation in the remainder of Inter’s season, as well as extending to international competitions such as the impending Euro tournament. The Serie A confirmed that the report from the division’s “sporting judge” Gerardo Mastrandrea would be released imminently, indicating whether Acerbi would be subjected to further investigation.
Inter announced their intention to meet with Acerbi promptly to clarify the details surrounding the incident.