The verdict in an investigation into the alleged racial abuse incident involving Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi could arrive today.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. Acerbi risks a 10 match suspension.
For the past week, the investigation into Acerbi’s alleged racial abuse of Napoli defender Juan Jesus during a Serie A match before the international break has been ongoing.
Sporting Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea handed the investigation to the prosecutors’ office of the Italian FA.
Italian FA prosecutor Giuseppe Chine headed up the investigation last week.
Chine spoke to both Acerbi and Jesus to get their respective versions of events.
The two players gave sharply differing accounts.
Napoli defender Jesus claims that Acerbi stated “Get lost, you’re black. You’re just a [n-word.]”
Jesus is adamant that the highly offensive racial slur was uttered.
Furthermore, the Napoli defender spoke to referee Federico La Penna to complain of the incident.
La Penna spoke to both Jesus and Acerbi. The Napoli defender claims that Acerbi apologized for the use of the slur.
Moreover, Jesus claims that Acerbi added that “For me, [n-word] is just an insult like any other.”
Meanwhile, Acerbi has stuck to a different story. The 36-year-old Inter and Italy defender insists that he had actually uttered the phrase “I’ll make you black” towards Jesus during the match.
Francesco Acerbi Verdict Could Come Today – Ten-Match Ban Risked
Italian FA prosecutor Chine spoke to both Acerbi and Jesus last Friday.
The prosecutor also collected other evidence. Whilst there was no audio or video evidence directly showing the incident, there was other footage.
Moreover, Chine interviewed others on the pitch. The prosecutor also heard audio of the conversation between La Penna and his VAR after the incident.
On Saturday, Chine handed the evidence that he’d collected to Sporting Judge Mastrandrea.
And the Sporting Judge has been reviewing that evidence since then.
Mastrandrea will deliver the final verdict regarding whether or not Acerbi is guilty of using racially discriminatory language.
Should the Sporting Judge find the Inter defender guilty, then he will receive a lengthy ban,
Under Article 28 of the Code of Sporting Justice in Italy, ten matches is the minimum suspension for racial discrimination cases.
On the other hand, if Mastrandrea determines that Acerbi did not racially abuse Jesus, then the former Lazio and Sassuolo defender will immediately be available for selection in Inter’s next match, against Empoli.
