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Pablo Matera in action for Argentina in their Tri Nations match against New Zealand at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta, Sydney on November 14, 2020.
Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
The Argentine rugby union lifted the interim suspension of the employer Pablo Matera and two other players for racist tweets Thursday, in a 180-degree turn just two days after calling the posts “unacceptable.”
The surprise move followed reports that Argentina’s players had threatened to attack because of Matera’s suspensions. Guido petti Y Santiago Socino for his “discriminatory and xenophobic” tweets.
“The disciplinary process will continue and the commission will reach its final resolution in the next few days,” the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) said in a statement.
“In the first instance it is unnecessary to maintain the precautionary measures, and it is decided to lift the suspension of the three players and reinstate the captaincy of Pablo Matera.”
None of the three players were named to the Argentina squad to play Australia in the final Tri Nations game in Sydney on Saturday, where Jerónimo de la Fuente will take the captain’s armband.
Matera had previously said he was “deeply ashamed” of the tweets, posted between 2011-2013 and since deleted, including one in which he spoke of “running over black people” with his car.
The historic tweets resurfaced after criticism that the Pumas failed to pay tribute to Argentine soccer icon Diego Maradona, who died last week, before Saturday’s loss to New Zealand.
In announcing the suspensions on Tuesday, the UAR had said: “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.”
Equipment:
Australia
15 Reece Hodge, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio.
Substitutes: 16 sailors, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Salakia-Loto, 20 Rob Valetini, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Irae Simone, 23 Tom Banks
Argentina
15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Facundo Isa, 6 Santiago Grondona ;, 5Marcos Kremer, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Substitutes: 16 Jose Luis Gonzalez, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Santiago Chocobares
