The Italian Football League announced on Tuesday that it had opened an investigation after accusations of racist insult targeting Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi.
“After having read the arbitration report, the sports judge considers it necessary for the federation prosecutor to investigate in order to determine what happened between the Naples player Juan Jesus and the Inter Milan player Francesco Acerbi concerning the possible expressions of racial discrimination uttered by the latter,” indicated the League in its press release relating to the 29th day of the Italian Championship.
After the match between Inter and Naples which ended in a draw (1-1), Jesus declared that Acerbi had “crossed the line”, while ensuring that the two players had explained themselves.
The Brazilian, author of the equalizing goal, had warned the referee of the match that Acerbi had uttered a racist insult against him while the 29th day of Serie A was dedicated to the fight against racism, the players wearing on the jersey the inscription “Keep Racism Out” (“Leave racism out”).
On Monday, Acerbi left the Italian team, 2021 European champions, assembled in Rome before flying to the United States where she will play two friendly matches on Thursday and Sunday against Venezuela and Ecuador.
The Italian Federation had clarified that Acerbi had explained that he “did not intend to be defamatory, denigrating or racist”.
On his return to Milan, Acerbi, 36, assured journalists that he had “said nothing racist”, which prompted Jesus to react on social networks.
“Acerbi’s comments that I read do not correspond with reality and with what he told me as was corroborated by the video images,” wrote the Napoli defender, former player of Inter. “It’s unbearable (…) we must fight racism here and now,” he concluded.
Acerbi faces a ten-match suspension, which would end his season with Inter and could deprive him of Euro-2024 (June 14-July 14).
