Mar 18, 2025, 03:59 PM ET
SAO PAULO — Alejandro Domínguez, the president of South American football frame CONMEBOL, apologized Tuesday for his remarks the day prior to this evaluating Brazilian golf equipment to a chimpanzee from Tarzan motion pictures.
Domínguez instructed newshounds the former evening after the Copa Libertadores attract Paraguay that the South American membership match with out Brazilian groups that experience ruled it lately can be “like Tarzan with out Cheetah.”
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“Referring to my contemporary commentary, I wish to specific my apologies,” Domínguez mentioned in a commentary. “The expression I used is a well-liked word and I by no means supposed to belittle or discredit any individual. The CONMEBOL Libertadores is unthinkable with out the participation of golf equipment from the ten member nations. I reaffirm my dedication to proceed running for a fairer, extra united football, loose from discrimination.”
The Brazilian govt condemned Dominguez’s remarks and CONMEBOL anti-racism measures.
“The Brazilian govt repudiates within the most powerful phrases the statements made via the President of CONMEBOL Alejandro Dominguez,” Brazil’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs mentioned in a commentary.
“The statements happen in a context by which CONMEBOL government have again and again did not undertake efficient measures to forestall and keep away from the repetition of acts of racism in fits organised via them.”
CONMEBOL has been beneath greater power to behave decisively in opposition to racism. Moments ahead of his remark to newshounds, Domínguez spoke in Portuguese and claimed CONMEBOL has labored arduous to prevent racism. A number of Brazilian gamers and fanatics had been centered via monkey chants at away fits lately, which has additionally introduced extra power at the confederation’s president to behave.
The latest case came about on March 6, when Palmeiras U20 striker Luighi spoke with tears in his eyes about racism he had continued from fanatics of Paraguay’s Cerro Porteno in a U20 Copa Libertadores fit. Later, CONMEBOL fined the membership in $50,000 and banned its supporters from attending the match, which Brazilian golf equipment noticed as a timid punishment.
Alejandro Domínguez all of a sudden apologized for his remarks. DANIEL DUARTE/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Domínguez, who’s from Paraguay, mentioned in ready remarks on the draw that his is delicate to “Luighi’s ache.”
“Our problem is to be truthful to those that are liable for those acts,” Domínguez mentioned. “CONMEBOL applies sanctions and does the whole lot in its energy to modify this truth. However it isn’t sufficient.”
Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães criticized Domínguez right through a press convention forward of his group’s International Cup qualifying fit in opposition to Colombia on Thursday.
“The president of CONMEBOL has much more to fret about that doing that roughly comic story. We noticed what took place in Luighi’s case, the punishment given to Cerro Porteno used to be an incredible loss of appreciate,” Guimaraes mentioned in Brasilia. “Dressed in Brazil’s blouse and talking about CONMEBOL can carry me some punishment. They have got extra vital issues to fret about.”
Palmeiras president Leila Pereira mentioned she “slightly believed that Dominguez’ commentary used to be true.”
“I believed the video have been manipulated via AI. Possibly now not even AI would be capable of produce one of these disastrous commentary,” Pereira instructed newshounds.
