Brazilian football club Batel Guarapuava have confirmed that their player Diego has been sacked with immediate effect after he allegedly made a racist comment about an opponent during a cup match.
While Batel ran out 1-0 victors over Nacional-PR to safely secure their spot in the next round of Brazil’s FPF Cup, the shocking incident involving Diego towards the end of the second half has overshadowed Saturday’s contest.
After match referee Diego Ruan Pacondes da Silva had blown up for a foul in the 89th minute, Nacional-PR defender Paulo Vitor Roberto Silva de Oliveira, known as PV, was pictured exchanging some heated words withNacional midfielder Diego.
But one particular remark prompted PV to turn and punch Diego in the face, with both players falling to the turf as an all-out brawl threatened to break out at Batel’s Waldomiro Gelinski Stadium in Guarapuava.
After returning to his feet, PV reported to the referee that he had been the victim of alleged racial abuse and the official, in turn, signalled the anti-racism protocol by crossing his arms in an ‘X’ shape.
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Diego, who was said to be bleeding heavily, was later taken in an ambulance to hospital for further treatment, while PV shown a straight red card for violent conduct.
Less than 24 hours after the match, Batel Guarapuava officially announced that Diego was no longer a part of their first-team squad, with PV alleging that he had been called a ‘monkey’ during the fracas.
‘Batel Guarapuava informs that, after presenting itself to the competent authorities in relation to the incident registered in yesterday’s match against Nacional, the athlete involved was immediately removed from his activities and is no longer part of the club’s professional squad,’ the statement read.
‘Batel reaffirms its commitment to respect, equality and human rights, vehemently repudiating any form of prejudice, racism or discrimination.
‘The club will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities so that the facts are clarified and the appropriate legal measures are duly applied.’
A separate statement from the Parana Football Federation, which manages all tournaments within the Brazilian state of Parana, reassured fans that they remained committed to stamping out racism and all forms of discrimination.
‘Fighting racism is a commitment of the Parana Football Federation. We condemn what happened in the match between Batel and Nacional for the FPF Cup this Saturday in Guarapuava,’ it read.
‘After a game situation that caused confusion in the area, the Nacional defender ended up being sent off for assaulting a Batel player, when he allegedly reacted to a racial slur by punching his opponent.
‘The match referee, Diego Ruan Pacondes da Silva, followed FIFA’s global anti-racism protocol, with the characteristic gesture of crossed arms, signalling the incident, and the match was stopped for about 18 minutes.
The statement continued: ‘No racism! The FPF maintains ongoing anti-racism campaigns in stadiums (with signs, posters, and banners), on its website, and on social media, and in 2005 released an explanatory video about FIFA’s anti-racism protocol.
‘We also reiterate our stance against violence in football, both on and off the field.
‘The acts of this Saturday will be forwarded and judged by the Sports Justice Court of Parana.’
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