Juventus boss Massimilano Allegri feels club captain Leonardo Bonucci "expressed himself badly" when he offered his opinion on the racist abuse directed at team-mate Moise Kean.
Bonucci claimed Kean, 19, should shoulder 50% of the blame for the abuse he suffered during a Serie A match against Cagliari earlier this week.
The teenage forward was targeted by a section of the Cagliari support in Sardinia, and reacted by holding his arms aloft after scoring his side's second goal of a 2-0 win.
Bonucci has since issued a clarification of sorts, saying he was "clearly misunderstood" and was "too hasty" with his post-match comments.
Allegri, who was himself criticised for saying Kean should not have celebrated scoring against Cagliari in the manner he did, tried to set the record straight at the club's press conference on Friday.
"Racism must always be fought against and is never justifiable," Allegri told the club website.
"With his mind still on the game, post-match, Bonucci expressed himself badly but realised this and apologised. These two things are distinct."
Allegri was speaking ahead of his side's match against AC Milan at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening.
Juventus will wrap up their eight successive Serie A title if they win and nearest challengers Napoli lose at home to Genoa.
