FEMININE
Widespread confusion began after Candela Díaz, a player on the Argentine team, imitated a monkey towards a ball boy
Published on December 21, 2024 at 11:10 am
River Plate player imitates a monkey for a ball boy Credit: Reproduction
The game between the women’s teams of Grêmio and River Plate, in the semi-final of the Ladies Cup, ended with widespread confusion, accusations of racial insults and six players from the Argentine team being expelled. In the end, the confrontation was ended due to the absence of the minimum number of athletes on the field. The score was 1-1, goals scored by Julieta Romero, for River, and Maria, for Grêmio.
The game was stopped for around 30 minutes at the end of the first half, after Gurias Gremistas’ equalizer. Candela Díaz, a River player, was caught imitating a monkey towards the ball boy. Quickly, confusion took over the pitch, with the professional being defended by Grêmio athletes. Then, the Brazilians left the field towards the locker room.
The referee sent off six River Plate players: goalkeeper Esponda, defender Camila Duarte, left-back Cángaro, midfielders Candela Díaz and Julieta Romero and midfielder Milagros Diáz. Due to the absence of the minimum number of athletes on the field, the judge ended the duel. The draw classified Grêmio, who will play the final of the competition against Bahia.
According to the ge website, two ball boys were interviewed at the stadium and went to the police station to give a statement. Defender Brito and physical trainer Thales de Oliveira were witnesses, accompanied by coordinator Patrícia Gusmão. Four River players involved in the episode, accompanied by managers, were also interviewed at the police station. The Ladies Cup organization was present.
At the end of the game, the coach of the Gaucho team, Thaissan Passos, stated that the athletes from the Argentine team had already committed racial insults against the Grêmio players.
“In fact, the athletes on the opposing team called the girls monkeys, “negrita”. There was the case with the ball boy, and the girls didn’t accept it, he’s here working. This situation has been happening since the beginning of the game. I came to represent my athletes, situations like this cannot continue to happen. How long will we continue to pretend that there is no racism, machismo”, he said, on the SporTV broadcast.
“For us, we don’t have any conditions to play. It’s not just about coming back and playing. It’s about reassuring the girls to have a bit of dignity. 1-1 would classify Grêmio. We were morally attacked, it’s on television, everyone saw it.”
In a statement, River expressed its rejection of the “discriminatory gestures that occurred”.
