Four players from the Argentine football club River Plate have been arrested for racial abuse following their match against Grêmio during the Brazil Ladies Cup on Friday evening, October 20. The players, Candela Díaz, Camila Duarte, Juana Cangaro, and Milagros Díaz, were taken to São Paulo's 6th Police Department after the game, where they faced accusations of making racist gestures toward the ball boy.
According to reports from Globo Esporte, the incident took place after Grêmio equalized the match with a goal scored by Maria at the 34th minute. Television footage from SporTV showed midfielder Candela Díaz mimicking a monkey gesture directed at the ball boy, which incited chaos on the field. The emotions ran high as players from both teams became embroiled in the incident, eventually leading to six expulsion cards being issued against the River Plate players.
The match was halted, and Grêmio's coach, Thaissan Passos, reported instances of racial insults directed at her team as well. She explained, "They called the girls 'monkeys,' 'black girls.' It resulted from them conceding a goal, which led to their unbalanced reaction. This is shameful, and it detracts from the competition and the prestige of women's football."
With six players expelled from River Plate, the game could not continue under the rules, resulting in Grêmio being declared the winner 3-0. The tensions triggered by the incident not only affected the match but also the perception of the tournament and played directly to broader societal concerns about racism.
Following the incident, the judicial process was initiated, leading to the preventive detention of the four players, which was confirmed during the custody hearing held on Saturday, October 21. The players' attorney, Thaís Sankari, has stated her intention to file for habeas corpus to secure their release so they can respond to the charges outside of custody. She mentioned, "The athletes are scared about what has transpired," indicating the significant emotional toll the event has taken on them.
The River Plate club has publicly condemned the actions of its players, stating, "We express our absolute repudiation for the discriminatory gestures made during the match against Grêmio. We are undertaking the corresponding disciplinary measures and will continue our efforts to eradicate this type of behavior." The club emphasized its commitment to presenting the players to the appropriate legal authorities as needed.
The outrage also sparked reactions from Grêmio, which issued its own statement condemning the racist incidents. The club acknowledged the need for justice and pledged to continue fighting for equality and respect. Their statement reinforced, "We do not accept this type of situation and take this opportunity to reinforce our commitment against all forms of prejudice and discrimination."
The Ladies Cup, meanwhile, announced its decision to exclude River Plate from future tournaments and impose a two-year suspension. "The Brazil Ladies Cup repudiates the episode of racism during the match between River Plate and Grêmio. We will not tolerate any form of prejudice and will support the victims of such lamentable events," the organization stated.
It was revealed by the tournament organizers on Saturday, October 21, the maximum penalty prescribed under Article 26 of the competition's regulations was implemented—outlining not only the ban of River Plate from the current tournament but also the suspension for two years.
Looking forward, the Ladies Cup has planned various initiatives to address and combat racism during the upcoming final between Grêmio and Bahia set for Sunday, October 22. This will include anti-racism messages displayed at the event, promoting the importance of respect and equality within sports.
This incident serves as yet another stark reminder of the challenges facing sports, where racism remains prevalent. The crackdown on such behavior is being emphasized more vigorously than before, showing the commitment from various stakeholders to create fair and respectful environments for all.
