Leonardo Bonucci has backtracked on suggestions his Juventus team-mate Moise Kean was partly responsible for the racist abuse he received from Cagliari supporters by insisting he was 'misunderstood'.
The defender had said Kean 'could have done it differently' and 'the blame is 50-50', after the 19-year-old spread his arms while facing the crowd after scoring.
Bonucci had since been criticised by, among others, Raheem Sterling for saying so, but now says he was 'too hasty'.
Leonardo Bonucci has backtracked over his comments made about team-mate Moise Kean
However, he wrote on Instagram: 'After 24 hours I want to clarify my feelings. I was interviewed right at the end of the game, and my words have been clearly misunderstood, probably because I was too hasty in the way I expressed my thoughts.
'Hours and years wouldn't be enough to talk about this topic. I firmly condemn all forms of racism and discrimination. The abuses are not acceptable at all and this must not be misunderstood.'
Sterling had branded criticism of Kean laughable while the Italian Football Federation issued an apology after the teenage striker was racially abused by fans.
Moise Kean celebrated his goal on Tuesday in front of Cagliari fans who racially abused him
Bonucci told Kean he brought the abuse on himself by provoking the home fans
Kean called his celebration 'the best way to respond to racism' when he posted on Instagram
After scoring Juve's second goal in the 2-0 win at Cagliari, he stood next to the post and spread his arms in a defiant response to monkey chants coming from the stands. His manager Massimiliano Allegri was also critical of his celebration.
Manchester City forward Sterling, who also pointedly celebrated a goal in front of opposition fans after he was racially abused during England's Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro last month, had taken to Instagram to counter Bonucci's argument.
'The blame is 50-50 @bonuccileo19,' he posted alongside a number of laughing and applause emojis.
'All you can do now is laugh.'
Also writing on Instagram, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba said: 'I support every fight against racism, we're all equal.'
Raheem Sterling has called the comments made by Bonucci as laughable
Sterling has become a leading voice in the crusade to stamp racism out of the game for good
Pogba added in Italian: 'Good Italians wake up, you can't let a small racist group speak for you. £equalgame £respect.'
Former Juve defender Patrice Evra also voiced his support for Kean on Twitter with a post which condemned the abuse.
Evra, on his account @Evra, wrote: 'This is not acceptable in football or anywhere in the world. Well done to @moisekean for standing up to them and showing them who is boss. The world would be a better place if we all shared more love no matter what.'
