Italy/racism: due to lack of evidence, Acerbi acquitted following accusations of racism by Juan Jesus

Inter Milan Italian international Francesco Acerbi, accused of racist insult by Napoli defender Juan Jesus, has not been sanctioned due to lack of conclusive evidence, the Italian Football Federation announced on Tuesday.

“Considering that the minimum level of reasonable certainty as to the discriminatory content of the offense committed has not been reached, it was decided not to apply the sanctions provided for by article 28 of the Code of Sports Justice,” a explained in a press release Gerardo Mastandrea, the judge of the Italian Federation in charge of disciplinary matters.

According to this article, Acerbi, 36, was liable to a suspension of at least ten league matches, which would have ended his season and seriously compromised his participation in Euro-2024 in Germany (June 14-14). July).

“The discriminatory content, without calling into question the good faith (of Juan Jesus), seems to have been perceived only by the offended player, without the support of any external proof, whether audio, video or even testimony” , notes the judgment of the FIGC.

On March 17, during the clash of the 29th day between Inter Milan, leader of Serie A, and Naples, defending champion, Juan Jesus warned the match referee that Acerbi made a racist remark to him while that the two players were fighting over a corner.

At the end of the meeting, Jesus, 32, explained that Acerbi had “realized that he had gone too far” and apologized to him.

The next day, Acerbi, summoned for two friendly matches between Italy and the United States, left the Nazionale rally after giving his version of the facts and declaring that he “had not (had) the intention of 'be defamatory, denigrating or racist'.

“Acerbi’s comments do not correspond to reality and what he told me,” Juan Jesus reacted on his social networks. “It’s unbearable (...) we must fight racism here and now.”