Suspended Matera back as captain of Argentina

PABLO Matera has been reinstated as Argentina captain after his and two team-mates’ suspensions for “discriminatory and xenophobic” comments on social media were lifted.

Matera, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino were suspended on Tuesday for the posts made between 2011 and 2013.

But the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) now says such measures were “unnecessary”.

It said the players’ apologies and good behaviour in the years since meant their suspensions could be lifted.

“The preventive measures are unnecessary so we have resolved to lift the suspension of the three players and reinstate the captaincy to Pablo Matera,” the UAR said in a statement.

“The disciplinary process continues and the commission will arrive at a final resolution in the next few days.”

Flanker Matera, lock Petti and hooker Socino had their social media accounts closed on Tuesday but screenshots of historical posts which disparaged black people and people from other South American nations were circulated widely.

The UAR said the posts were “imprudent and immature”.

Their discovery had followed criticism of the team for not doing enough to mark the death of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona before their defeat against New Zealand on Saturday.

The trio have not been named in the Pumas’ squad for Saturday’s Test against Australia after they received “a lot of hate” about the posts. Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma said: “All I can say about these three fine players and great men is that they are great human beings.”