Tennis players Luiz Martinez, from Venezuela, and Cristian Rodriguez, from Colombia, were arrested on Thursday afternoon (22) by the PM (Military Police) on suspicion of having made racist gestures on the court after a match at the Itajaí Open, a Challenger 75 tournament played at Clube Itamirim, in Santa Catarina.
The foreign pair was defeated by Brazilians Igor Marcondes and Eduardo Ribeiro, with scores of 6/7(4), 7/6(6) and 10/2.
According to Instituto Sports, organizer of the Itajaí Open, at the end of the match, Martinez allegedly made gestures imitating a monkey directed at the fans in the stands, while Rodriguez insulted an employee of the organization, also calling him a monkey.
The police were called and detained the Venezuelan at the hotel where he was staying, shortly after leaving the event location. According to the PM, Rodriguez went to the police station to accompany his partner and there he was recognized by the offended employee.
“The victim informed the PM, and Cristian was arrested right there at the police station”, said the commander of the 1st Battalion of the PMSC, Lieutenant Colonel Ciro Adriano da Silva.
The Civil Police made an arrest report and sent the pair to the Itajaí Regional Prison, where they await the custody hearing that will take place this Friday afternoon (23).
The police did not say whether the tennis players have trained lawyers and the report did not locate the suspects’ defenses.
“What happened during the doubles game today at the Itajaí Open was met with immediate action from the Military Police who were present and took the appropriate measures within Brazilian legislation. The Itajaí Open vehemently repudiates racism or discrimination of any kind,” said the tournament organizers in a statement.
