[ad_1]
Argentina throws rugby captain Matera for ‘xenophobic’ messages
In his tweets, since deleted, Matera spoke of “running over blacks” with his car and disparaged Bolivians and Paraguayans.
In this file photo taken on October 9, 2019, Argentina wing Pablo Matera salutes after winning the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup Group C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. Image: AFP.
SYDNEY, Australia – Argentine rugby captain Pablo Matera was stripped of the captaincy and suspended Tuesday for “discriminatory and xenophobic” tweets.
Just over two weeks after the wing led the Pumas to their first victory over the All Blacks, the Argentine Rugby Union “revoked” his captaincy and suspended him along with his teammates Guido Petti and Santiago Socino.
“The Argentine Rugby Union strongly rejects the discriminatory and xenophobic comments posted by members of the Pumas squad on social media,” a statement read, after offensive tweets dating from 2011-2013 came to light.
In his tweets, since deleted, Matera spoke of “running over black people” with his car and disparaged Bolivians and Paraguayans.
The team said that while the charges were old and “did not represent the personal integrity that the three have displayed during their current tenure with the Pumas,” action had to be taken.
“The Argentine Rugby Union condemns any case of hate speech and considers it unacceptable that anyone who expresses these points of view represents our country,” the statement said.
[ad_2]
