Inter defender Francesco Acerbi could face a lengthy ban if found guilty of racially abusing Napoli’s Juan Jesus. The pair clashed in the closing part of the Nerazzurri’s 1-1 draw with Napoli, with Juan Jesus seen protesting with the match referee, La Penna, in reference to alleged racist insults directed at him during the match by Inter’s central defender. “This is not acceptable,” Juan Jesus said, pointing several times to the “No to Racism” patch printed on the sleeves of Serie A jerseys.
In the post-match interview, the Brazilian, who incidentally scored the decisive goal for Napoli, downplayed the issue: “He went a bit too far with his words, but he apologized. He’s a good guy, and everything is fine when the game ends. I hope it doesn’t happen again because he’s an intelligent guy.”
Napoli coach Francesco Calzona explained that he didn’t know much more: “Juan Jesus was outside the locker room; I only crossed paths with him, and he didn’t say anything to me.”
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi also swiftly closed the matter: “The press officer just informed me; I don’t have any material to say anything. We know the guy; he will speak for himself.”
According to TMW, If Juan Jesus’s claims are proven true, the matter might not end here. Much will depend on any reports from federal inspectors, but if the Brazilian’s allegations against Acerbi are confirmed, sanctions could follow. In particular, the Sports Justice Code provides for harsh penalties for members who engage in discriminatory behavior: “a ban for at least ten matchdays or, in the most serious cases, with a time-limited ban.”
