Francesco Acerbi will not leave with the Italian national team for the tour of the USA
, where two friendly matches are scheduled.
The decision to exclude the Inter defender from the group came after the episode that saw him
protagonist in Inter-Napoli with Juan Jesus who reported a racist offense before receiving an apology
.
According to the FIGC, Acerbi made it clear to the coach, Luciano Spalletti, and his teammates during the retreat in Rome that he had no discriminatory intent, but it was still decided not to let him stay "for the necessary serenity of the national team and of the player himself ".
Acerbi leaves retirement today.
Napoli published a tweet from its official account against racism
.
"From Naples to the world, shout it out loud: no to racism", this is the text of the post which has a video with the Napoli players framed in the foreground and saying phrases against racism.
From Naples to the world, shout it out loud: no to racism.#KeepRacismOut pic.twitter.com/cppxejCToZ
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) March 18, 2024
Roma defender Gianluca Mancini has been called up in Acerbi's place
Roma defender Gianluca Mancini, who was already part of the pre-call-up list, was called up
to replace Acerbi in the national team
.
The note released by the FIGC reports that "the footballer Francesco Acerbi, who arrived this morning at the national team retreat in Rome, explained to coach Luciano Spalletti and his teammates, as required by Club Italia's internal policy, his version of the alleged racist expression reported by the footballer Juan Jesus during the Inter-Napoli match. From the report of the Nerazzurri defender, while waiting for what happened to be reconstructed in compliance with the autonomy of sports justice - continues the note - it emerged that there was no has no defamatory, denigrating or racist intent. However, it was agreed to exclude Acerbi from the list of players called up for the next two friendly matches scheduled in the United States, to guarantee the necessary serenity for the national team and for the player himself, who will return to the club today belonging".
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