11/30/2020 3:25 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 11/30/2020 8:59 PM
The controversy began on Saturday, when Los Pumas took to the court to face the All Blacks, more than two days after the death of Diego Maradona, and only remembered Ten with a black ribbon that was barely visible in the arms of the players.
People's criticism rained down, expecting a greater tribute.
The Argentine players apologized on Monday for that tepid gesture and assured that as a team "they want to continue Diego's legacy."
The criticism, however, did not stop.
On the contrary, they grew.
Because in response to the words of Pablo Matera, who spoke from Sydney on behalf of the entire group, some Twitter users brought to light old tweets with messages of racist content that the captain himself and other players -
Guido Petti
and
Santiago Socino
- wrote to their accounts several years ago.
Hours later - it is worth remembering the difference of 14 hours with Australia, where the team is located - the three apologized.
The controversial messages of the members of the Argentine national team, who at the time of writing were between 18 and 20 years old, generated the anger and indignation of many people, who once again charged against the players and the Argentine Rugby Union with more strength.
Pablo Matera was one of the rugby players who remained at the center of the controversy.
Photo Press UAR
Matera and Petti deleted their accounts on that social network - Socino's is still active - but the captures of the tweets that they had shared between 2011 and 2013 continued to circulate and went viral.
To the point that the name of Matera became the number one trend in Argentina.
Many began to ask the UAR to sanction the players.
Clarín tried to communicate with the leaders of that organization, although he still did not receive a response.
The three players who were in the eye of the storm did not comment on it either.
The three later apologized in a post on Instagram.
Matera spoke specifically of the "atrocities" he had written and argued: "I did not imagine who I was going to become."
Guido Petti, one of those who was criticized for his old tweets, reaches out to take the ball.
Photo EFE / EPA / DAN HIMBRECHTS
"I am very ashamed. Apologies to all those who were offended by the atrocities I wrote. At that time I did not imagine who I was going to become. Today I have to take charge of what I said 9 years ago, Sorry also to my team and my family at the moment they are going through my actions and thanks to the people who love me for their support, "Matera wrote on Instagram.
Petti sent a message with the same sentiment.
"I wanted to tell you that I am very sorry and ashamed for what I once said. Those messages do not represent the absolute person I am today. I was wrong."
Meanwhile, Socino said he felt sorry and ashamed "for his messages and assured that he repudiated them" absolutely. "And he closed his self-criticism:" I do not seek to justify it with the immaturity with which I handled myself. "
From the
Tutelary Public Ministry
- an organism of the Judicial Power whose mission is to control the legality of the procedures, the promotion of access to justice, and the respect, protection, promotion and satisfaction of the rights and guarantees of girls , children and adolescents and users of mental health services - a strong criticism of Matera had also arrived after noon.
Santiago Socino, pictured during the 2019 World Cup, also apologized for his tweets.
Photo German Garcia Adrasti / Special Envoy
"It is in clubs and in sports where girls and boys often tell about the violence they are suffering. The clubs also work on inclusion and equality before the law, they work to guarantee and protect rights. That is why the statements of this person
(NdR: In reference to Matera)
, who represents us worldwide through the team of which he is captain, are also nefarious, discriminatory, incite hatred and must be sanctioned. Because through his place, he must transmit values and under no point of view these values can be these ”, commented Dr.
Yael Bendel
, General Guardian Advisor.
The Pumas were enjoying a very positive year in terms of results.
Beyond the 38-0 defeat in the last game against the All Blacks, they had reaped in their first appearances at the 2020 Three Nations the first victory in history against the New Zealanders and a creditable draw with Australia.
That good moment was first overshadowed by the lukewarm homage to Maradona;
but especially now with the viralization of these messages that were repudiated by many fans of rugby and sports in general.
Some of the controversial tweets
Petti tweet from January 24, 2013.
Petti's tweet from December 5, 2012.
Tweet by Pablo Matera published on April 24, 2012.
Matera tweet from May 3, 2012.
Matera tweet from May 30, 2012.
Tweet posted by Santiago Socino on November 1, 2012.
Socino Tweet from September 1, 2012.
Tweet posted by Socino on November 22, 2011.