Matera loses captaincy over offensive tweets
Pumas star Pablo Matera has been stripped of the captaincy of the Argentina team, in the fallout from xenophobic and racist tweets messages he sent between 2011 and 2012.
Two other Pumas players, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino, have also been suspended for historical offensive tweets and the trio will almost certainly miss the Tri Nations final match, against the Wallabies, on Saturday.
Matera had earlier yesterday issued an apology after the tweets, which included comments about Bolivian and Paraguyan domestic workers and black people, resurfaced on socialmedia.
The Argentine Rugby Union issued a statement saying it had decided to strip Matera of the captaincy.
‘‘The Argentine Rugby Union strongly repudiates the discriminatory and xenophobic comments published by members of the Los Pumas team on social networks and meeting urgently, the Board of Directors resolves: In the first place, revoke the captaincy of Pablo Matera and request the staff to propose a new captain to the Board of Directors.’’
Petti and Socino are also accused of discriminatory texts, some of which are highly sexist towards domestic workers. The trio will face charges before the union’s disciplinary commission.
Some of Matera’s tweets are racist towards black people, and relate to a tour of South Africa.
Earlier, Matera apologised. ‘‘I had a tougher time. I am very ashamed. Apologies to all those who were offended by the atrocities I wrote,’’ Matera said via Instagram.
‘‘At that moment I did not imagine who I was going to become. Today I have to take charge of what I said 9 years ago.’’
The 27-year-old flanker led the Pumas to an historic 25-15 victory over the All Blacks in Sydney last month, but they were soundly beaten 38-0 in Newcastle on Saturday night.
He has closed his Twitter account. Matera issued another apology yesterday after the Pumas came under fire for failing to pay tribute to Diego Maradona following the death of the legendary Argentine footballer.
The All Blacks earned international praise for paying homage to Maradona during their pre-match haka.