Defender Gustavo Marques, from Red Bull Bragantino, apologized again this Sunday (22) for his misogynistic statements against referee Daiane Muniz, after being eliminated by São Paulo in the quarter-finals of the Campeonato Paulista.
The statements provoked reactions from Red Bull Bragantino itself, which is evaluating sanctions against its athlete, and from the FPF (São Paulo Football Federation), which will send the audios for evaluation by the Sports Court.
“I was hot-headed and very frustrated by our team’s result and I ended up saying what I shouldn’t have said and what I could have,” the player wrote on his social media.
“I recognize my mistake and the unhappiness of my statement. I am very sad and I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I hope to come out of this episode a better person. I promise to learn from this mistake,” he added.
Scorer of the goal for the team from the interior of São Paulo in the home team’s 2-1 defeat on Saturday night (21), Marques criticized the work of referee Daiane Muniz, attributing supposed flaws during the match to the fact that she was a woman.
“Firstly, I want to talk about refereeing. Because there’s no point in us playing against São Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians and them putting a woman to referee a game of this size. I think she wasn’t honest”, said the defender.
“We work every day, leave our family at home, so they can come and end our dream. It was our dream to reach the semi-finals”, added the defender.
Upon leaving the changing rooms, already repentant, Marques stated that he had sought out Daiane to apologize for his statements.
“I’m here to ask for forgiveness from all the women in the world, in Brazil. I said things I shouldn’t have said at that moment,” said the defender. “I feel bad, I’m sad. My wife has already cursed me, my mother has already cursed me. Every human being makes mistakes. I’m here to ask forgiveness for all women.”
He added that Daiane accepted the apology. “She just said to be more careful with your words, because there are women who won’t accept it.”
Red Bull Bragantino also spoke out and reinforced its “apology to all women and, especially, to referee Daiane Muniz. The club does not condone and repudiates defender Gustavo Marques’ sexist speech.”
“We know that the weight of an elimination is frustrating, but nothing justifies what was said. Be it in football or in any area of society. The club will study in the coming days the punishment that will be applied to the athlete”, added Bragantino.
The FPF published a note harshly condemning Gustavo Marques’ statements. “It is with deep indignation and revolt that the São Paulo Football Federation received the athlete’s interview,” said the federation.
“A statement regarding referee Daiane Muniz that reflects a primitive, sexist, prejudiced and misogynistic vision, incompatible with the values that govern society and football. It is absolutely appalling that an athlete, under any circumstances, questions the ability of a referee based on their gender”, highlighted the FPF.
The federation added that Daiane Muniz “is an FPF/CBF/FIFA referee of the highest technical, correct and character quality”, and that she will forward the statements to the Sports Court, “so that it can take all appropriate measures.”
