Why are Los Pumas a trend in networks?
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(CNN Spanish) -
Players of the Argentine rugby team, Los Pumas, are involved in a controversy over old messages on social networks considered xenophobic and racist, which they now repudiated and offered apologies, and after another controversy over a tribute from the team to the late soccer star Diego Maradona.
First it was the tribute to Maradona, for which criticism rained down on the players of the Argentine rugby team, after seeing that they took to the field and only used a black armband to remember who, for some, is the greatest idol of Argentines of all times.
Above all, because that gesture by Los Pumas was overshadowed at that very moment by their opponents from that party, the All Blacks - the New Zealand national team - who offered a black T-shirt with the number 10 and the Maradona surname stamped on it. the back.
The beautiful gesture of the All Blacks to Maradona 0:22
“We know that the tribute that we chose to do for Diego over the weekend caused pain and disappointment in many people.
And we wanted to tell you that in no way was that our intention.
Diego was an extremely important person for us, a person who always supported us, always accompanied us ”, the then team captain Pablo Matera justified to try to calm the criticism, through a video with the entire squad of the team, posted from Australia, where they are playing the Three Nations Tournament.
But, simultaneously with that apology, a scandal was unleashed in social networks when old messages considered as xenophobic and racist from Matera and two other members of the campus were discovered on their Twitter accounts, from when they were between 18 and 20 years old.
The players quickly closed their profiles on that social network, but before doing so they offered an apology through that platform and that they were published by Argentine media.
CNN could not verify the apologies due to the closure of the Twitter accounts, but screenshots of the disparaging comments have been widely shared by Argentine media and on social media.
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This Monday, the Argentine Rugby Union issued a statement where, in addition to repudiating what it called "the discriminatory and xenophobic comments published by members of the Los Pumas squad on social networks", it decided to "revoke the captaincy of Pablo Matera" and " suspend Pablo Matera, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino from the national team until their disciplinary situation is defined ”.
The entity clarified that, "although the messages were expressed between 2011 and 2013 and do not represent integrity as people that the three showed during this time in Los Pumas," they condemn "any expression of hatred" and consider it "unacceptable" that those who express represent Argentina.
According to the Argentine media Clarín, Matera posted a post on Instagram this Monday in which he claims to feel "very ashamed" and apologizes to "all those who were offended by the atrocities I wrote."
And he added: «Today I have to take responsibility for what I said nine years ago.
I also apologize to my team and my family for the moment they are going through my actions and I thank the people who love me for their support.
In screenshots included in a Clarín report, Socino apologized "to those who felt offended by what I said", while Petti said that his publications "do not represent the person I am today at all.
I was wrong and wanted to express my sincere apologies.
The players received some messages of support from their teammates for this attitude.
Such is the case of Matías Moroni, who on his Twitter account highlights that Matera “rectified himself” and “knew how to show his face.
Asking for forgiveness and not hiding behind a desk ”.
CNN has attempted to communicate with player representatives, but to no avail at the moment.
The Buenos Aires Ombudsman's Office announced that, in conjunction with the National Institute against Discrimination (Inadi), "they will make the respective complaints and will offer courses and programs" to "deconstruct this inconceivable and unacceptable position."
In addition, the club where Matera plays, Stade Français, also issued a statement condemning his statements.
And while he emphasizes that, since his arrival in December 2019, his conduct has been "irreproachable" and mentions Matera's public apology, he also warns that, upon his return, he will be summoned by the club's management.
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