Napoli relaunch Champions League push as Jesus racism storm rumbles on
Napoli renew their bid for Champions League football on Saturday when they take on rivals Atalanta with the Juan Jesus racism storm making it a bitter Easter weekend for the ailing Scudetto holders.
Italy's outgoing champions return from the international break outraged over Tuesday's decision by the Italian Football Federation's disciplinary tribunal to clear Inter Milan's Francesco Acerbi of racially abusing Brazilian Jesus.
Racism from the stands is depressingly common in Italian football, where neo-fascist fan groups have been a common sight since at least the 1970s.
But such a serious accusation – which Acerbi denies despite apologising to Jesus on the pitch – aimed at a current Italy player caused a huge controversy which carried right through the international break.
The episode left a sour enough feeling in Naples that Napoli decided to pull their support for FIGC-sponsored anti-racism initiatives, calling them "purely cosmetic".
Italy's outgoing champions have also shown signs of life on the pitch since being taken over by Francesco Calzona last month and fought back impressively to stall Inter's solo title march a fortnight ago.
Napoli are seventh and nine points behind fourth-placed Bologna with nine matches remaining, a gap which would ordinarily leave them way off the pace for the Champions League.
However Italy are favourites for a fifth spot in Europe's top club competition, which means Napoli still have an outside chance of salvaging something from a largely disastrous season.
Roma currently sit in fifth, six points in front of Napoli ahead of their trip to Lecce on Easter Monday, and are one of three direct rivals for the Champions League yet to visit the Stadio Diego Maradona.
Sixth-placed Atalanta are the first
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