Juan Jesus has come forward with claims of a racist comment directed at him by Francesco Acerbi during Napoli’s recent Serie A match against Inter.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the spotlight shifted to allegations of racism following the incident. During the game, Juan Jesus was seen signalling to the referee, indicating that Acerbi had made a racist remark towards him.
He also pointed to the “Keep Racism Out” badge on his sleeve, which is part of Serie A’s anti-racism campaign.
Despite the controversy, Acerbi initially joined the Italy squad for upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador in the United States.
However, he has since been replaced by Roma’s Gianluca Mancini.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) explained the decision in a statement, which reads: “From the Inter defender’s account, pending that what happened is reconstructed with full respect to the autonomy of the sporting justice system, it emerged that there was no defamatory, denigrating or racist intent on his part.
It was nevertheless agreed to leave Acerbi out of the squad for the next two friendly matches in the United States, to guarantee the necessary serenity to the national team and to the player himself, who will return to his club today.”
Upon his return from the Italy camp, Acerbi said to the Italian media: “I did not say any racist phrases. I have been playing football for 20 years and I know what I say. Many things happen on the pitch … but when the referee blows his whistle, you shake hands, and it all goes back to how it was before.
“There must be no racism anywhere in the world. I’m sorry I had to leave the national team training camp, but that’s how it was and it’s right.”
Juan Jesus took to social media to issue an angry response to Acerbi’s denial, claiming the Inter defender called him a “nero”—the I Italian word for black—before using the racist slur “n*gro.”. The Napoli star’s statement in full reads: “For me, the issue was closed yesterday on the pitch with Acerbi’s excuses and honestly, I would have preferred not to go back to something so vile as what I had to suffer.
But today I read statements by Acerbi totally contradicting the reality of the events, with what he said yesterday on the field of the game and with the evidence shown also by footage and unmistakable lips in which he asks for forgiveness.
“I’m not going to fit like that. Racism is being fought here and now. Acerbi told me, ‘go away, nero, you’re just a ngro.’ Following my protest with the referee, he admitted he was wrong, apologized and then added: ‘for me ngro is an insult like any other’.
Today he changed his version and claims that there was no racist insult. I have nothing to add.”