Scandal with Los Pumas: Hugo Porta's tough letter to the UAR leadership

12/03/2020 2:58 PM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 12/03/2020 2:58 PM

In recent days, Los Pumas gave a lot to talk about.

First, for the cold tribute they paid Diego Maradona after his death with a bare black armband on his sleeves while they played their game against the All Blacks.

And, as if that were not enough, the flame of the controversy increased with the old racist tweets of Captain Pablo Matera, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino that went viral.

Faced with the complicated situation in Argentine rugby, Hugo Porta

.

"I am alarmed that in the midst of all that rugby is happening, some voices are heard worried that advertisers are lost. Where have we come? That is why I think we must rethink the path to take," wrote the current rugby president in the Banco Nación club, which

, in which the clubs vote directly and not the Unions.

Porta defended the team captain and his teammates for the offensive written on the social network Twitter

.

"I know the quality of people they are. Pablo Matera has evolved as a person (I don't stop to analyze him as a player, because what he is is in plain sight) and confirms the support and trust he has from his teammates," he said.

And immediately he expressed his disagreement with the UAR's handling of the situation: "These messages that were written 9 years ago are inappropriate and indefensible, but those who wrote them apologized, and the response they received in return was to suspend them and leave them alone at the public derision.

. "

Regarding the tribute to Ten, the former captain of the Pumas highlighted the gesture of the New Zealand squad with the shirt with Maradona's name, saying "I know the New Zealanders well and I know perfectly well that their tribute is not due to improvisation, but to a construction of years ", pointing against the Argentine leadership.

In addition, he excluded the squad from all responsibility for the controversial black bracelet.

As a result of the events that have occurred in recent days with our sport and national team, we share the words of Hugo Porta, president of Banco Nacion rugby pic.twitter.com/hdIXSNT2LY

- Rugby Bank (@Rugbybanco) December 3, 2020

The complete letter from Hugo Porta:

After Saturday's game, I sent a message to Nico Sánchez, in which he said that the loss to the All Blacks did not invalidate what they had done so far.

I was referring to the previous victory against the New Zealanders, after which I also had an emotional exchange with Nico, to thank him and express two things: that I felt part of that victory and that this is how the history of the Pumas was built.

But going back to the post-test with the Australians, I was surprised by the answer that Nico gave me: he was worried because the tribute to Diego Maradona had not been enough.

So I told him what I still feel and now I want to make clear: none of that was the fault of the players.

The responsibility lay with the leaders and it was they who decided that he only go out onto the field with the black armband.

I am also next to the players in this wrong - yet another - decision of the UAR.

From here I want to convey the solidarity that many of us who have worn that shirt throughout history feel towards them.

These messages that were written 9 years ago are inappropriate and indefensible, but those who wrote them apologized, and the response they received in return was to suspend them and leave them alone to public derision.

The leadership not only did not take time to analyze, think and change, but acted in a way that does not coincide with what we suck at our clubs.

I know these guys.

They have invited me to share a dinner with them when they were in England, I have exchanges and I know the quality of people they are.

Pablo Matera has evolved as a person (I don't stop to analyze him as a player, because it is clear what he is) and confirms the support and trust he has from his teammates.

I have been captain of the Pumas for almost 20 years and I know that the captains are chosen by the leadership, but it is the players who ratify it.

In this time, especially in this Three Nations, Pablo has shown that he is a very good captain, also off the pitch.

All this that has happened, this emotional ups and downs in recent days, but also in the path that has been taken in recent years, it has to serve us from now on to consider, in a deep and broad way, what we want of our rugby.

Where do we want to go and how?

I do not believe in self-criticism as the solution, but in a path that goes much further.

I will stop again at the UAR and its professional process.

Because you want to be professional for some things and not for other essential ones, such as accompanying a captain, who is the image of the team, in advising for a world in which today you are permanently exposed.

I know the New Zealanders well and I know perfectly well that their homage is not due to improvisation, but to a construction of years.

I am alarmed that in the midst of all that rugby is happening, some voices are heard worried that the advertisers are lost.

Where have we come?

So I think we must rethink the path to take.

I have no doubt that the blood of Argentine rugby runs through the veins of the clubs.

That is where our time is four times more than the 80 minutes of a game.

Where, as Pochola Silva says, we have to fraternize with those who played with us and those who play now.

That is why I propose that we think of new ways of electing our leadership.

The broadest and most democratic thing is that each of the 500 clubs in the country has a vote and can exercise it, and not that they decide it between Unions.

We must be transparent, discuss how the money is distributed and, of course, continue and improve what was done well.

It is our great opportunity.

We always grew stronger in adversity.