アチェルビの差別疑惑、証拠不足で調査中止に ナポリは「あぜん」

【ローマＡＦＰ＝時事】サッカーイタリア・セリエＡのインテルに所属する同国代表ＤＦフランチェスコ・アチェルビが、ナポリでプレーするブラジル出身のファン・ジェズスに人種差別的な発言をしたとされる件で、イタリアサッカー連盟（ＦＩＧＣ）は２６日、証拠不足を理由に調査を打ち切ったと発表した。（写真はイタリア・セリエＡ、インテルのフランチェスコ・アチェルビ）
　アチェルビは今月行われたナポリ戦でジェズスに差別的な発言をした疑いが持たれていた。調査の結果によっては１０試合の出場停止処分を科され、その場合はインテルでのシーズンは終了となり、６月１４日開幕の欧州選手権も出場不可になる可能性があったが、連盟は差別を裏付ける外的な証拠がなかったとして、処分を見送ることにしたと説明した。
　この決定について、ジェズスが所属するナポリは「あぜん」としているとするコメントを発表し、「彼（ジェズス）が誤解したとは考えづらい」と主張。今後は、連盟主導の「見せかけでしかない」反差別の取り組みには参加せず、「新たな信念と決意を持って、われわれ自身が率先して取り組んでいく」と表明した。
　ジェズスは問題の試合後、ピッチ上でアチェルビからの謝罪を受け入れたと明かし、「ピッチで起きたことはピッチにとどまる」と話していたが、その翌日にアチェルビが人種差別的な発言はしていないと否定。これにジェズスが反発し、「きょうのアチェルビの発言は実際に起きたことや彼がピッチ上で言ったことと完全に矛盾している」と怒りをあらわにしていた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/03/27-17:52）

Italian club Napoli said they were stunned after Italy's football federation (FIGC) on Tuesday dropped a probe into alleged racist comments made by Inter Milan's Francesco Acerbi to Napoli's Juan Jesus due to lack of evidence.
Brazil's Jesus had initially played down the incident following Napoli's 1-1 draw at Inter Milan earlier this month saying what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch after accepting Acerbi's on-field apology for unspecified insults.
The FIGC said considering that the minimum level of reasonable certainty as to the discriminatory content of the offence committed has not been reached, it was decided not to apply the sanctions.
The discriminatory content, without calling into question the good faith (of Juan Jesus), seems to have been perceived only by the offended player, without the support of any external proof, whether audio, video or even testimony, the FIGC statement added.
Reacting to the news, Jesus' club Napoli said they were stunned by the FIGC's decision.
It is not reasonable to think that he (Juan Jesus) misunderstood, the club said.
Napoli added they would no longer join purely cosmetic initiatives against racism and discrimination coordinated by the federation.
We will continue to lead them ourselves... with renewed conviction and determination.
Acerbi, 36, faced a possible 10-match suspension which would end his season with Inter and could have ruled him out of Euro 2024 which starts on June 14.
Jesus, 32, had initially explained that Acerbi realised that he had gone too far and apologised to him.
The next day, Acerbi joined Italy's training camp ahead of two friendlies after giving his version of events to his Azzurri teammates and coach Luciano Spalletti on the alleged racist remark.
It sparked an angry reaction from Jesus on Instagram: I thought that the incident was done with on the pitch and frankly I was hoping not to have to come back to something so despicable.
However today I read Acerbi's comments which conflict completely with what happened, with what he himself said on the pitch which is backed up by video footage of him asking me for forgiveness.
I'm not having it, racism is going to be fought here and now.