Thuram calls for Acerbi’s transparent clarification in racism dispute

Marcus Thuram, a player for France's national team and Inter Milan, demands a clear explanation from his teammate Francesco Acerbi regarding allegations of racism against Napoli's Juan Jesus.

Chirag

March 21, 2024

Marcus Thuram Opens Up About Racism By Acerbi — Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images

Marcus Thuram is demanding a “clear explanation” from his Inter teammate, Francesco Acerbi, regarding the racism dispute involving Napoli’s Juan Jesus, emphasizing the intolerable nature of such actions.

During the closing moments of Inter’s 1-1 draw with Napoli on March 17th, Juan Jesus reported to referee Federico La Penna that Acerbi had allegedly directed racial slurs at him, while pointing to the Kick Racism Out badge on his shirt.

Acerbi maintains his innocence and has opted out of the Italy training camp at Coverciano. He and Juan Jesus are scheduled for interviews with the FIGC Prosecutor’s Office in the following days. Acerbi faces a potential 10-match ban if found guilty.

Thuram, speaking from the France training camp, addressed various topics including competition within the Les Bleus squad and the possibility of participating in the Olympics. However, he also expressed his stance on Acerbi’s situation, stressing the importance of remaining with the club to provide a detailed account and defend oneself rather than joining the national team.

Thuram echoed the sentiment of his teammate, Maignan, advocating for players to leave the pitch in response to racism incidents, emphasizing the need to assertively oppose such behavior.

Regarding other football events, Thuram commented on Stefan Savic’s actions in a recent Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, expressing his disapproval but asserting he wasn’t concerned about VAR.

Reflecting on the Champions League elimination, Thuram highlighted the resilience of the French national team and expressed determination to secure the Scudetto.

Finally, Thuram discussed his own progress as a player and addressed the persistent inquiries about his father, Lilian Thuram, emphasizing his focus on his own career and development.