Italian football team Napoli's players took a knee before a league match on Saturday to support their Brazilian teammate Juan Jesus, who was allegedly racially abused during a match.
Before kick-off against Atalanta which the defending Italian champions lost 3 - 0 at Naples' Diego Arman do Maradona Stadium, Napoli players kneeled to support Jesus, who is Black.
Earlier this month, Jesus claimed that Inter Milan and Italian defender Francesco Acerbi, 36, directed a racial slur at him in an Italian Serie A match between Inter and Napoli that ended in a 1 - 1 draw.
Case dismissed
Jesus, 32, told the referee of the match held March 17 in Milan that he was racially abused by his opponent.
This week, the Napoli defender said he was "crestfallen" as Acerbi confirmed that he would not face sanctions for allegedly abusing Jesus.
On Tuesday, an Italian top-flight league' s sports judge dismissed the case for lack of evidence.
Difficult to comprehend
"I have read several times and with great disappointment the decision of the sports judge, who felt there was no evidence that I was the victim of a racist insult during the match between Inter and Napoli on 17 March. While respecting the decision, it is one I find difficult to comprehend and it leaves me feeling very bitter," Jesus said in his statement.
Acerbi will be able to play for Italian leaders Inter in their match against Empoli on April 1. The Italian international denied the allegations.
But Acerbi was excluded from Italy’s squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador. Acerbi, a former Lazio defender, helped Italy clinch the EURO 2020 title.
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