After the announcement of the decision of the Italian Federation in charge of disciplinary matters to release Francesco Acerbi who faces accusations of racism, Naples defender Juan Jesus, alleged victim, reacted with emotion on social networks.
“I have read several times and with great disappointment the decision of the sports judge, who considered that there was no proof that I had been the victim of a racist insult during the match between Inter and Naples on March 17. While respecting it, it is a decision that I find difficult to understand and which leaves me very bitter,” commented the Brazilian international.
Following these serious accusations, the Italian defender of Inter Milan Franceso Acerbi was forced to leave the national team and tried to deny these words in the columns of La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Words which did not please Juan Jesus at all, who then confirmed, once again, his version of the facts on social networks: “Acerbi told me: go black, you are only ‘a black. Following my protest to the referee, he admitted having made a mistake and apologized to me, also adding: for me, a black man, it is an insult like any other. Today, he changes his version and affirms that there was no racist insult. I have nothing to add “.
“I fear this could set a serious precedent”
Faced with the justifications provided by the judge of the Federation, Gerardo Mastandrea, Juan Jesus said he was “discouraged” by this story in which his only mistake was “having treated him like a gentleman, by deciding not to interrupt a match important “.
“I really don’t understand how ‘go away nigger, you’re just a nigger’ can be considered as being certainly offensive but not discriminatory”, was surprised once again the former defender of the Roma and Inter.
“I didn’t expect it to end like this. I fear – and I hope I am wrong – that this could set a serious precedent for justifying certain behaviors after the fact. I sincerely hope that this sad affair can help the world of football to reflect on an issue that is both serious and urgent,” concluded Juan Jesus in his press release, shared on his networks and those of Napoli.
