The Famalicão footballer who accused Pepe of racially insulting him, Santiago Colombatto, released a statement clarifying what he said to the FC Porto centre-back.
“My words were, lyrically, ‘you got me a patadón, boludo’ [deste-me uma patada, idiota]. I said it kindly, by the way, but in the context of a game and in line with what Pepe’s figure means to me. So much so that after the shock I looked for Pepe in the changing rooms to clarify what had happened, but he wouldn’t listen to me,” he wrote, lamenting the incident.
“Yesterday something very sad happened during the game against FC Porto. It was not the defeat or the elimination. The opponent player, whom I admire and take as a reference, accused me of calling him “mono”. [macaco]. I want to think it was a mistake that he didn’t immediately listen to what I said to him, although in analyzing his later behavior I have serious doubts about that,” he began by saying.
The 26-year-old Argentine defensive midfielder says he never had a racist attitude or comment during his career or as a child. “I will not even allow these kinds of transgressions to be committed in front of me. My values are above all else. I may have a thousand faults, but racism is not one of them and I will not allow anything to affect my life .” “I will not allow my son to hear from anyone that his father is racist,” he stressed, as “racism is a scourge of society and the sport” that must be eradicated.
“In this way, launching false accusations, we will not succeed. It is as serious to commit a racist act as to fabricate it to harm someone. I am not trading my honor for a trophy” , continues the player on loan from Club Mexicans. Léon, who described the pain caused by Pepe’s accusation and reiterated his willingness to clarify what had happened.
“I hope you recognize your mistake to return to the place that corresponds to you as a reference in the football world and thus live up to the emblem you defend,” he concluded.
On Thursday, FC Porto qualified for the final of the Portuguese Football Cup for the 33rd time in its history, beating Famalicão 3-2 in the second leg of the semi-final after extra time.
After winning 2-1 at Vila Nova de Famalicão last week, the trophy holders saw Minho’s team draw, with goals from Cádiz (21 minutes) and Iván Jaime (75), with Galeno scoring the blue and white goal scored (28, penalty).
However, when everything indicated that the semi-final would be decided on penalties, Otávio (120 + 1 minutes) and Evanílson (120 + 4) ‘sealed’ FC Porto’s qualification, that it would face Sporting de Braga in the final of the World Cup. will record. Portuguese Cup, scheduled for June 4 at Estádio Nacional.
After 87 minutes, Pepe became agitated with Colombatto, who was on the ground waiting for medical attention, and with the referee Manuel Mota, and play was interrupted for about three minutes, with the centre-back complaining of being the target of racist insults. by the opponent. The coach of the dragons, Sérgio Conceição, even received a yellow card during that period.
Source: DN
