Teófilo Gutiérrez, former player of Racing, River, Lanús and Rosario Central, received a sanction due to an inappropriate incident that took place last Saturday at the Manuel Murillo Toro stadium in Ibagué, during the confrontation between Deportes Tolima and Deportivo Cali, corresponding to the third date of Group A of the final quadrangulars of Colombian soccer.
As reported by the field commissioner in the most recent resolution of the Disciplinary Committee of the Dimayor, Teófilo Gutiérrez inappropriately touched a woman who was part of the logistics of the event. This incident occurred at the entrance to the inflatable tunnel at the end of the first half.
In the report, the field commissioner pointed out that "the young Leidy Lorena Urrego Salguero, from logistics, reported that the player Teófilo Gutiérrez of the visiting team (Cali) had touched her buttocks on two (2) occasions at the intermission of the match."
As a result of this behavior, Teófilo was sanctioned with four dates, which means that he will not be able to play for Deportivo Cali for the rest of the year 2023. In addition, he must pay a fine of 1,005,000 Colombian pesos (about $90,000).
Deportes Tolima had initially requested an investigation into the events, calling them "supremely serious and delicate." Witnesses, including Dimayor's media officer and an operator from the game's broadcast company, are willing to testify to back up what happened.
Teofilo Gutierrez defended himself by denying the facts and alleging that the woman approached him to ask for his shirt. "She came up to me to ask for the shirt, and I told her at another time because I had already exchanged it with a player," the player said.
Deportivo Cali has the possibility of appealing the sanction if it presents sufficient evidence, although it is noted that the reports of match officials enjoy a presumption of veracity, although there is always the option of presenting evidence to the contrary.
The Teo Gutierrez scandal with a firearm in the Racing dressing room
Teo, in a derby against Independiente. (Clarín Archive)
In April 2012, after losing 4-1 in a derby to Independiente at the Cilindro de Avellaneda, Teófilo Gutiérrez had an ugly argument with Sebastián Saja, who reproached the Colombian for having been "childish" for having received a red card and left Racing with ten players.
In the middle of the argument, which reached a point of confrontation and included other players, the Colombian striker took a firearm from his bag and threatened his teammates. That was the last time Gutierrez played for Racing. In April of this year, Brian Sarmiento, who played that game for La Academia, recounted what that moment was like in the locker room.