Four River Plate players detained in the act for racial slurs, during a game against Grêmio last Friday (20) in São Paulo, had their arrest converted into preventative this Monday (23), after a custody hearing. According to the Reuters Agency, the Brazilian justice system had decided on preventive detention to prevent the Argentine women from leaving Brazil. Athletes Candela Díaz, Camila Duarte, Juana Cangaro and Milagros Diaz remain imprisoned in the penitentiary in the capital of São Paulo (Carandiru).
The arrest on Friday (20) occurred after widespread confusion on the field, caused by racist gestures made by River Plate player Candela Díaz, after Grêmio drew 1-1 with River Plate, in the 40th minute of the first half, at the Stadium from Canindé. Videos published on social networks show the moment in which Candela Díaz appears imitating a monkey towards one of the ball boys at the match. The Grêmio players reacted against the Argentine athlete’s gestures and then, according to rejection note from Tricolor Gaucho, also suffered racist insults.
“When defending the ball boy, the Gremista Gurias were also victims of racist words and gestures. In the confusion, the match was interrupted and six River players ended up being expelled, putting an end to the game. We deeply regret the episode and sympathize with the ball boy and the athletes who were attacked in an unacceptable and intolerable way. A police report was registered at the responsible police station and we will do everything possible to ensure that the case results in punishment for those responsible,” Grêmio said in a statement.
THE Brazil Agency contacted the Argentine athletes’ lawyer, Thaís Sankari, but did not receive a response until the publication of this report.
After the incident, River Plate was excluded from the tournament and the next two editions of the Ladies Cup, a tournament that ended the women’s football season in the country. The organizers of the Ladie Cup classified the events as “regrettable” and also repudiated the racist insults, in an official note.
“The organization reinforces its anti-racist position and reaffirms that it will never tolerate cases of this nature,” says the statement.
On Friday night (20), the Argentine club also published official note condemned what happened.
River Plate expresses its absolute condemnation of the discriminatory gestures that occurred in the match against Grêmio for the Brasil Ladies Cup 2024. It announces that it is already taking the corresponding disciplinary measures and will continue working to eradicate this type of behavior.
After the final against Bahia, Grêmio is champion of the Ladies Cup
WE ARE CHAMPIONS! Bahia (1)1×1(2) #Grêmio
To the #GuriasGremistas end the 2024 season with another title! After an exciting shootout on penalties, we won the #LadiesCup2024 and we show, once again, the strength of the Immortal. Congratulations, Gurias! 👏🏽💙 pic.twitter.com/K0ct7KEBWI— Gurias Gremistas (@GuriasGremistas) December 22, 2024
On Sunday (22), Grêmio defeated Bahia on penalties and lifted the Ladies Cup trophy. Striker Maria Dias opened the scoring for the Gauchos and midfielder Kaiuska left everything the same. On penalties, goalkeepers Vivi and Yanne shone, with three saves, but the tricolors from the south were more efficient and won 2-1, winning the title for the first time, to the pride of coach Thaissan Passos.
* With information from Reuters and collaboration with reporter Lincoln Chaves, from TV Brasil
