The São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) reported, this Tuesday (24), that requests for habeas corpus so that the four players from River Plate, from Argentina, who were arrested in the act for racial insults last Friday (20), could respond to the accusations in freedom. The athletes had their arrest converted into preventative on Monday (23), after undergoing a custody hearing on Saturday (22).
Defender Camila Duarte, full-back Juana Cángaro, midfielder Candela Díaz and midfielder Milagros Díaz are in the Carandiru penitentiary, in the north of São Paulo. THE Brazil Agency tried to contact lawyer Thaís Sankari, one of the players’ defense representatives, but had no response until the report was published.
In requests for habeas corpusthe defense justified that the athletes are “suffering illegal embarrassment on the part of the Judge of the Judiciary Duty of the District of São Paulo”. The defense also maintained that keeping them detained, on the grounds that they do not have residence in the country, would not have “suitable grounds”, as River committed to presenting them to the Brazilian courts whenever determined.
In the arguments against the requests for habeas corpusrapporteurs Alberto Anderson Filho and Hermann Herschander understand that preventive detention is fair due to the “concrete gravity of the conduct” and necessary to “avoid new crimes”. They also consider the commitment made by the Argentine club to be insufficient, “which does not have any power over the right to come and go of its employees.”
The arrest was the result of widespread confusion on the lawn of the Canindé Stadium, in São Paulo, during a game between River and Grêmio, last Friday (20) night, for the Ladies Cup, a tournament that ended the 2024 women’s football season in Brazil. . The Argentines took the lead and conceded a draw in the 37th minute of the first half.
In the midst of the celebration, there was an argument. At this moment, Candela Díaz was caught making gestures simulating those of a monkey towards a ball boy – according to the defense, he had previously gestured with his hand to his genitals and provoked an “attitude of retaliation”. Then, according to the records, Candela, Milagros Díaz, Camila Duarte and Juana Cángaro allegedly offended the ball boy with racist terms.
The Grêmio athletes reacted to the demonstration of their opponents. According to a statement released by the Rio Grande do Sul club, they were also the target of racial insults from the Argentine women.
River had six players expelled in the confusion, resulting in the immediate end of the match, as the team was left with less than seven athletes on the field. In addition to the four defendants, goalkeeper Lara Esponda and midfielder Julieta Romero also received a red card. The Argentine club spoke out on social media, stating that it repudiates the discriminatory gestures and that it will take disciplinary measures.
With this, Grêmio was declared the winner of the game, qualifying for the final. In the decision, the Gurias Gremistas beat Bahia on penalties 2-1, after a 1-1 draw in normal time, winning the unprecedented title.
