Venezuelan player Miguel Navarro of Argentine Talleres reported on Tuesday (27) “an act of xenophobia” from Paraguayan steering wheel Damián Bobadilla, from Sao Paulo, during the Libertadores Cup duel. The match between the two teams took place at the Morumbis stadium.
Navarro and Bobadilla, players of their countries’ teams, were surprised in the final stretch of the game, which was won by 2-1 by the Paulista Tricolor.
After the discussion, the 26 -year -old Venezuelan began to cry, and Chilean referee Piero Maza interrupted the match for a few minutes. Companions and opponents comforted Navarro, and the duel continued.
“I go to the last consequences in the face of xenophobia I experienced today in Brazil at the hands of Damián Bobadilla,” said Navarro after the game in an Instagram post.
“I would like you to have in my hands the solution to hunger in my country […] I will never be ashamed of my roots, “added Navarro, referring to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
Later, in statements to the press, he said the opponent called him “Hunger Dead Venezuelan.”
Bobadilla, 23, has played in Sao Paulo since 2024. His father is the former goalkeeper of Paraguayan team Aldo Bobadilla.
Neither the player nor Sao Paulo have manifested themselves so far.
“I don’t know the situation. Put yourself in my place: I’m in the seat, 50 meters, 10 minutes left [para o fim da partida]what can I know about this situation? “
Talleres expressed the “most energetic repudiation” to the “act of xenophobia” and expressed deep solidarity to his athlete. “As an institution, we raise our voice against any form of discrimination. There is no place for hatred in football,” he said in a message on network X.
The Brazilian press released images of members of the Talleres delegation entering the Morumbis Stadium Police Stadium.
“I want to talk about an act of racism that we suffer today. Perhaps this is doubly painful, because we are right here, in a land where the fight against racial discrimination is promoted, said the Argentine player of Talleres, Augusto Schott, in his post-game statement.
In Brazil, racism is considered a crime, punishable by between two and seven years and a half years. Clubs in the country have insisted acts of racism against their players in matches as a visitor in the continental tournaments.
In early May, Bolivian Miguel Terceros was arrested for calling “black shit” an opponent in a match of the second division of Brasileirão. Terceros, one of the promises of Bolivian football, was released the next day, but continues to respond to the court.
Sao Paulo got the ranking of the round of 16 of the continental tournament as leader of Group D, while Talleres ended last and ended their participation in international competitions this season.
