In since deleted tweets, sacked Argentina captain Pablo Matera allegedly spoke of ‘treading over blacks’ with his car and disparaged Bolivians and Paraguayans.
In shocking news about the Los Pumas captain, Matera, as well as two other senior players, lock Guido Petti and hooker Santiago Socino, the trio are to be suspended for racist and xenophobic comments made on Twitter in 2011 and 2013.
READ: Matera sacked as Argentina captain
Matera has taken the tweets down, one of which allegedly relates to a previous tour of South Africa.
The translation of one racist tweet from 2012 is believed to have read: ‘Nice morning to go out in the car to tread over blacks’, while he made xenophobic comments about Bolivians and Paraguayans.
Matera did publish an apology on his Instagram account.
‘Today I have to take [responsibility] for what I said nine years ago. I am very ashamed,’ Matera said.
‘Apologies to all those who were offended by the atrocities I wrote. At that moment I did not imagine who I was going to become.
‘I’m also sorry to my team and my family for the moment they are going through … and thanks to the people who love me for their support.’
Petti and Socino are also accused of discriminatory texts, some of which are highly sexist towards domestic workers.
‘Although the messages were expressed between 2011 and 2013 and do not represent the integrity as people that the three showed during this time in Los Pumas, from the Argentine Rugby Union we condemn any expression of hatred and we consider it unacceptable that those who express them represent our country,’ the union said in a statement.
