Napoli have announced their decision to not participate in Serie A's 'Keep Racism Out' campaign following the league and Italian football federation's choice not to penalize Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi for allegedly using racist language towards defender Juan Jesus during their match on March 17.
The league's sporting judge ruled against punishing Acerbi, citing a lack of 'minimum level of reasonable certainty' that the incident was racially motivated. However, the judgement did acknowledge the 'offensive and threatening tenor' evident in the analyzed footage and statements.
In response, Napoli released a statement expressing their refusal to engage in what they deemed as superficial anti-racism initiatives by football institutions. The club emphasized their commitment to combating racism and discrimination independently, with renewed determination.
As a demonstration of their stance, Napoli unveiled a new shirt without the 'Keep Racism Out' patch on the right sleeve. The club's chief marketing officer affirmed that Napoli would spearhead their own initiatives moving forward, distancing themselves from external bodies and associations.
The 'Keep Racism Out' campaign, aimed at combating racism and discrimination in football and beyond, includes various initiatives such as specialized ball podiums, line-up arches, substitution boards, and captain's armbands for the upcoming league matches.
In a statement on Napoli's official website, Juan Jesus expressed his bewilderment at the sporting judge's decision, despite reviewing the report multiple times. The Brazilian defender voiced concerns about feeling unprotected by the ruling and feared it could establish a troubling precedent for justifying similar behaviors in the future.
