Napoli footballer takes knee before match to support teammate Juan Jesus after racial abuse allegations

world news

by patrick riley

Players on Napoli's soccer team took a knee before Saturday's game to show support for teammate Juan Jesus, who was allegedly racially abused during a game earlier this month.

The protests come as an Italian sports judge will not sanction Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi for calling Jesus, who is black, a racial slur during a Serie A match due to insufficient evidence. This took place a few days after the verdict was handed down.

The team took a knee on the field at Napoli's Diego Armando Maradona Stadium ahead of the match against Atalanta.

During a match against Inter Milan on March 17, Jesus told the referee that Acerbi had directed a racial slur at him.

Acerbi has repeatedly denied using offensive language.

Prosecutors from the Italian Football Federation questioned the players and witnesses last week. The judge also reviewed images, video and audio from the fight before handing down his sentence on Tuesday.

The judge found that while it was clear that Acerbi had insulted Jesus, there was not a “minimum level of reasonable certainty” to prove that it was racially related.

Napoli called the ruling “astonishing.”

“Napoli will no longer take part in anti-racism and anti-discrimination initiatives carried out by symbolic football organizations, but we will continue our efforts as always with renewed conviction and determination. ” the club responded. In a statement.

Jesus said he felt “very bitter” about the decision.

Jesus, a 32-year-old black Brazilian, walked up to the referee during the game against Milan and pointed to the sleeve of his shirt, which had an “Stop Racism” badge on it, part of the league's anti-racism campaign. He looked clearly upset.

After the game, coach Jesus said Acerbi, 36, had apologized.

“What happens on the field stays on the field…He's a good guy,” he said.

Acerbi was sent home from the Italian national team's training camp the next day, but coach Luciano Spalletti and his teammates said they were confident that “he had no defamatory, slanderous or racist intentions.” .

Inter Milan are also reportedly considering sacking Acerbi if a judge finds him guilty.

with post wire