"I have read several times, with great regret, the decision by 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 that, while I respect it, I find it hard to understand and leaves me with great bitterness". Brazilian Juan Jesus, in a lengthy note published on Napoli's website, had his say about what happened during Inter-Napoli and the subsequent decision by the sports judge to acquit Nerazzurri player Acerbi of the charge of having addressed a racist insult to him. "I am sincerely disheartened", Juan Jesus wrote, "by the outcome of a serious affair that I had the only wrong of having handled "like a fine gentleman", avoiding interrupting an important match with all the inconvenience it would have entailed for the spectators who were watching the match, and trusting that my attitude would be respected and taken, perhaps, as an example. Probably, after this decision, those in my situation will act quite differently to protect themselves and try to curb the shame of racism that, unfortunately, is struggling to disappear." "I do not feel in any way protected by this decision," the footballer continues, "which is torn between having to admit that 'proof of the offense was definitely achieved' and claiming that there would be no certainty of its discriminatory character, which, again according to the decision, only I would have perceived, and 'in good faith.' I don't understand, really, how the phrase "'go away black, you're just a nigger ...'" could certainly be offensive, but not discriminatory. In fact, I do not understand why on earth get so worked up that night if it really was a "mere offense" with respect to which Acerbi himself felt compelled to apologize, the referee felt he had to inform VAR, the game was interrupted for over 1 minute, and his teammates were scrambling to talk to me. I cannot explain why on earth, only the next day and in retreat with the national team, Acerbi began a reversal of his version of events and did not, instead, immediately deny what had actually happened. I did not expect such an ending, which I fear-but hope I am wrong-could set a serious precedent to justify certain behaviors after the fact. I sincerely hope that this sad affair can help the whole soccer world reflect on such a serious and urgent issue".
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