SAO PAULO — Four members of the women’s soccer team from River Plate, who faced arrest over allegations of using a racial slur during a match, have been released, according to the Sao Paulo state prison administration.
On Friday, Judge Fernando Oliveira Camargo granted freedom to Argentine players Candela Díaz, Camila Duarte, Juana Cángaro, and Milagros Díaz, provided they check in at a Sao Paulo court each month until their legal proceedings conclude.
The identities of the four athletes were disclosed in an official document made public outside the Carandiru penitentiary in Sao Paulo, marking their release late on Friday. The players spent the Christmas holiday in detention, and as of Saturday, it remained unclear whether they had returned home, as neither their legal representative nor the club provided updates.
The incident occurred on December 21 during a semifinal match at the Brazil Ladies Cup, where play was halted in the first half. The match was interrupted after Díaz allegedly made monkey gestures towards a ball boy, a moment that was captured on broadcast footage. This ignited a conflict on the field, leading Grêmio players to withdraw in protest.
Following the confrontation, the referee issued red cards to six players from River Plate, resulting in the semis being called off due to insufficient players remaining on the field. Although the score was tied at 1-1 at that point, the referee declared Grêmio the winners, who subsequently triumphed in the tournament final two days later.
As a result of the episode, River Plate has been banned from participating in the Brazil Ladies Cup for a two-year period. Tournament organizers stated that future competitions will implement immediate bans for any team whose members or staff engage in racist behaviors on the field.
Grêmio’s coach, Thaissan Passos, revealed that her team had previously been subjected to derogatory remarks, asserting that River Plate players had called them “monkeys.”
To date, the Argentine athletes have not commented publicly concerning the ongoing situation. Meanwhile, River Plate has issued a condemnation of discriminatory acts, affirming its commitment to take the necessary disciplinary actions and to continue efforts aimed at eliminating such behaviors.
Historically, Argentine clubs have faced recurrent sanctions from South American sports organizations related to racist actions from their supporters, particularly during matches against Brazilian teams in men’s soccer.