Talleres’ Venezuelan midfielder Miguel Navarro accused Sao Paulo opponent Damian Bobadilla of making a xenophobic remark during their Copa Libertadores match on Tuesday, which the Brazilian side won 2-1.
The incident occurred late in the match at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi stadium after Luciano da Rocha Neves scored the winner against the visiting Argentine club, sparking tensions on the pitch.
Navarro alleged that Paraguayan Bobadilla said: “You starving Venezuelan,” after an exchange of words turned bitter.
“I wish I could have in my hands the solution to the hunger that my country is experiencing, I hope that God gives me abundance to be able to help. I don’t think much can be done about mental poverty,” Navarro said on social media.
“I will never be ashamed of my roots, I will go to the last consequences in the face of the act of xenophobia that I experienced today in Brazil at the hands of Damian Bobadilla. In football there is no room for hate speech.”
Bobadilla issued an apology on Wednesday via a video posted on social media.
“We exchanged some rough words. I was offended at first but I apologise because, in the heat of the moment, I reacted badly,” the midfielder said.
“It wasn’t my intention to discriminate. If I get the chance to talk to Miguel, I will apologise to him directly.”
The Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) has referred the matter to world governing body FIFA and South America’s CONMEBOL, urging them to take “exemplary measures to punish such behaviour and strengthen prevention and reporting protocols”.
“Venezuelan footballers have been the target of discriminatory behaviour both on and off the pitch,” the FVF said in a statement. “As a federation, we will not remain indifferent to these attacks, which violate our players and the very spirit of sport.”
Reuters has contacted FIFA and CONMEBOL for comment.
According to Brazilian media, Navarro reported the verbal abuse to local police, although authorities arrived at Talleres’ dressing room after Bobadilla had left the stadium.
The Paraguayan FA (AFP) released a statement later on Wednesday saying it had full confidence in Bobadilla’s “integrity, professionalism, and personal values”.
“Our institution demands that these acts be investigated with due impartiality and that the established protocols for prevention and punishment be applied,” it added.
