The Acerbi-Juan Jesus issue is not over yet. The sports judge acquitted the Nerazzurri defender of the accusation of having addressed racist insults to his opponent. The sentence rewarded Acerbi’s line as he had strongly maintained that he had never uttered the sentence that his Brazilian colleague attributed to him. The Brazilian is furious and will not be able to appeal. In the theoretical case in which Juan Jesus decided to present a complaint about the incident, without providing new evidence, the attempt would clash with the general principle of law according to which one cannot be judged twice for the same fact. Where the Brazilian could still assert himself by reporting Acerbi, he is in criminal court. And that’s not to say he doesn’t do it.
The words of Juan Jesus
Napoli, on their official website, published a long note from Juan Jesus, with the defender saying he was disheartened by the Sports Judge’s choice.
“I have read several times, with great regret, the decision with which the Sports Judge considered that there is no proof that I was the victim of racist insults during the Inter-Napoli match last March 17: it is an assessment which, although respecting it, I struggle to understand and it leaves me with great bitterness.
I am sincerely disheartened by the outcome of a serious matter which I was only guilty of having handled “like a gentleman”, avoiding interrupting an important match with all the inconvenience it would have caused for the spectators who were watching the match, and trusting that my attitude would have been respected and taken, perhaps, as an example. Probably, after this decision, those who find themselves in my situation will act in a very different way to protect themselves and try to put a stop to the shame of racism which, unfortunately, is struggling to disappear. I do not feel protected in any way by this decision which struggles between having to admit that “proof of the offense has certainly been achieved” and maintaining that there is no certainty of its discriminatory nature which, again according to the decision, only I and “in good faith” would have perceived. I really don’t understand how the phrase “‘go away black, you’re just a nigger…” can certainly be offensive, but not discriminatory. In fact, I don’t understand why there was so much fuss that evening if it really had been a “simple offense” for which Acerbi himself felt obliged to apologise, the referee felt he had to inform VAR, the match was interrupted for over 1 minute and his teammates were struggling to talk to me. I can’t explain why, only the next day and in retreat with the national team, Acerbi began a U-turn on the version of events and instead did not immediately deny, as soon as the match was over, what had actually happened. I didn’t expect an ending of this kind which I fear – but I hope I’m wrong – could set a serious precedent to subsequently justify certain behaviors. I sincerely hope that this, for me, sad story can help the entire world of football to reflect on such a serious and urgent issue.”
Napoli will not wear the anti-racism patch against Atalanta
Napoli has decided to no longer participate in the campaigns promoted by the League and will not wear the anti-racism patch with Atalanta. According to Il Mattino, however, Aurelio De Laurentiis’s club will go even further and against Atalanta when the championship resumes they could give further proof of their closeness to the player. Specifically, Juan Jesus could be given the captain’s armband and the rest of the team could enter the field wearing the shirt with the writing #iostoconJJ on it.
The anger of Napoli fans
A sentence that also infuriated Napoli fans. Yesterday, some banners signed by ‘Ultras 1972’, one of the historic organized support groups, appeared in various parts of the city including the main square and especially the Diego Armando Maradona: “Hypocritical system, your emblem is unripe.”