The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) opened an investigation on Wednesday after the denunciations of a Colombian player who complained of having been called a “monkey” by supporters of the Argentinian club Gimnasia, Tuesday evening during a a Copa Sudamericana game. “There is an ongoing investigation”, opened on Wednesday by officials of the confederation’s disciplinary committee, a source at Conmebol told AFP.
Tuesday evening, at the end of a match of the South American equivalent of the Europa League between Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata (ARG) and Independiente de Santa Fe (COL), the Colombian international striker of Santa Fe Hugo Rodallega, interviewed in the field, complained of having been the victim of racist cries. “That they call you a monkey, black… it’s a lack of respect, it makes you really sad to come here to Argentina and have this happen,” said the 37-year-old, visibly moved. . “I’m not saying that we lost because of that, but really this subject of racism, it’s drunk.”
The insults, which according to him targeted other teammates, would have occurred at the end of the first half, after a clash between players which resulted in four expulsions, a player from each camp and the two coaches. Gimnasia won 1-0 with a goal in added time.
Clashes “are things that happen on a pitch. We can argue, we can even fight, there can be expelled, it’s normal. But that people start to leave on the race, me it makes me sad, more sad than angry, “added Rodallega, Colombian international with 44 times. “We are really not improving as a humanity. It’s a disaster what is happening around the world, “concluded the player who notably played in England (Wigan, Fulham) and Turkey (Trabzonspor, Denizlispor).
The Gimnasia club reacted on Wednesday by saying “to condemn any specific or individual act (of racism) which may have targeted” Rodallega. The club undertook to “identify the people who (the) attacked, we will see if they are subscribers or not, and in function we will apply” the protocol of sanctions, indicated the vice-president Juan Pablo Arrien.
Conmebol, for its part, recalled its firmness against “any type of discrimination” in football, and that in parallel with its “Basta de racismo” campaign in 2022, it has reinforced the sanctions against racism, with fines of up to up to $100,000 for the club, and a minimum suspension of five matches for a player.
