Inter defender Juan Jesus laments his three-game ban for elbowing Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini and says the latter’s comments ‘sadden’ him.
The Nerazzurri appealed against the decision to ban the 23-year-old for three games but their effort was today confirmed as unsuccessful.
The Brazilian's Facebook profile saw an extensive commentary on the situation, in which he spoke against the decision.
Inter defender Juan Jesus laments his three-game ban for elbowing Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini and says the latter’s comments ‘sadden’ him.
The Nerazzurri appealed against the decision to ban the 23-year-old for three games but their effort was today confirmed as unsuccessful.
The Brazilian's Facebook profile saw an extensive commentary on the situation, in which he spoke against the decision.
“I'd like to apologise for my gesture, which was absolutely not deliberate, and the force of which accidentally hit another player,” Jesus began.
“I didn't even see the Juve defender. That's why I expected a different decision, especially having noticed other acts of much greater gravity being dealt with more leniently. This is not fair.
“I apologise to my teammates and the Inter supporters too. What pains me the most is knowing that I can't be with them over the next games. Leaving them now cuts much deeper than any ban.
“Finally, a necessary consideration. As I said, I didn't mean to hit my adversary, and I explained this to him after the game.
“This is a man who spent his career repeating that what happens in the pitch stays in the pitch.
“So seeing him go on TV to 'ask' for my ban, for a colleague to be punished, was something that truly saddened me.
“Hearing him 'call' the Judge to see if he was going to ban me, the way he too had been banned in the past, represents in my opinion a terrible example in terms of sportsmanship, class and style.
“It was a worst gesture than a real elbow blow. And I thank him for this. Today I am more of an Interista than I've ever been.”