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| Credit: (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) |
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) revealed on Tuesday that an investigation had been opened over alleged racist insults made by defender Francesco Acerbi.
In a statement from the FIGC which read: "After examining the referee's report, the sports judge considers it necessary for the federation's public prosecutor to investigate what happened between Napoli's Juan Jesus and Inter Milan's Francesco Acerbi in relation to any expressions of racial discrimination made by the latter."
Jesus had originally quenched the incident which transpired in Napoli's 1-1 draw at Inter on Sunday, saying to DAZN; "what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch", after seemingly accepting Acerbi's on-field apology.
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The Brazilian who scored Napoli's equaliser was seen protesting during the game to referee Federico La Penna, pointing to the 'Keep Racism Out' badge on his shirt and apparently saying, "[Acerbi] called me a negro."
Image via sportal.eu
This led to the exit of Acerbi from the training camp on Monday as he was replaced by Roma's Gianluca Mancini for the upcoming games against Venezuela and Ecuador.
The Italian FA then stated that Acerbi had explained he had "no intention of being defamatory, denigrating or racist".
Hence, on his return to Milan, Acerbi reiterated to journalists that he uttered "nothing racist".
Acerbi's comments led to an angry reaction from Jesus who took to Instagram, writing;
"I thought that the incident was done with on the pitch and frankly I was hoping not to have to come back to something so despicable."
"However today I read Acerbi's comments which conflict completely with what happened, with what he himself said on the pitch which is backed up by video footage of him asking me for forgiveness," Jesus continued.
"I'm not having it, racism is going to be fought here and now. Acerbi said to me 'get lost black, you're just a negro'... now he's changed tack and claims that there was no racism."
Acerbi seems set to face a 10-game ban which would end his current campaign with Inter and could see him miss the Euros which commences on June 14.