Inter Milan are keeping a low profile regarding the not guilty verdict for Francesco Acerbi in an alleged racial abuse case.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note that there has been no official statement regarding the verdict from the Nerazzurri.
Yesterday, Sporting Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea found Inter defender Acerbi not guilty of racially abusing Napoli’s Juan Jesus during a Serie A match earlier this month.
The verdict means that Acerbi will not face any sanctions.
Had Mastrandrea found the 36-year-old guilty, he would have faced a lengthy ban. Ten matches would have been the minimum length of a suspension.
But it is a big sigh of relief for Acerbi.
The former Lazio and Sassuolo defender can return straight to the pitch as soon as next Monday’s match against Empoli.
Inter Keeping Low Profile On Francesco Acerbi Verdict – No Official Statement
Yesterday’s verdict sparked a harsh reaction from Napoli.
The Campanian club responded with an official statement criticizing the verdict. They backed their player Jesus’s version of events.
But there has not been an official statement from Inter on the matter.
This is in keeping with how the Nerazzurri have handled the entire case.
Inter have not at any point taken a strong position of support for their player. They had awaited the verdict from Mastrandrea.
And even after a not guilty verdict, Inter have not made any official statement.
This follows the general protocol that the Nerazzurri’s directors, headed by Beppe Marotta, tend to follow in controversial situations. The directors prefer not to intervene and inflame controversies.
The Gazzetta also note that Inter’s directors were very irritated with Acerbi’s own statements on the matter.
The 36-year-old had spoken to reporters after leaving the Italian national team camp. He insisted on his innocence of using racially discriminatory language.
This had in turn provoked an angry response from Napoli defender Jesus on social media.
The Brazilian accused Acerbi of lying and changing his story.
From Inter’s perspective, the timing and context of Acerbi’s remarks to the media was inappropriate and had created unnecessary controversy.
And the Nerazzurri intend to be very mindful of their reputation and their commitment to fighting racism in any reaction they ultimately take to the not guilty verdict.
