Two of the three Boca Juniors (ARG) fans arrested on Tuesday (28) during a game against Corinthians, in Itaquera, for the Copa Libertadores, were released this Wednesday (29) after the payment of bail, fixed in the amount of R$ 20 thousand for each.
Sebastián Palazzo, accused of racial slur for having imitated a monkey for Corinthians, and Federico Ruta, who was charged with the crime of racism for having made a Nazi salute, will respond to the processes in freedom and will be able to return to Argentina.
José Lisa Raga, also arrested for racial slur, still remains at the Pinheiros CDP (Provisional Detention Center). He is a resident of Brazil and, until the publication of this text, has not been able to obtain bail money.
Roberto Bacal, prosecutor of the Special Criminal Court, told Sheet that Sebastian Palazzo “referenced [em seu depoimento] to be a businessman and to be or have been a manager of Boca”.
Palazzo and José are represented by lawyer Rogério Damasceno. In contact with the report, he confirmed the issuance of the release permit for the two, but declined to comment on the defense or confirm Palazzo’s institutional connection with Boca.
On the Argentine club’s website, on the page that shows the club’s governing body, his name appears on the list of advisors of the Table of Representatives. Sought by the report, the Argentine team did not comment on the case.
In its social networks, Boca also made no mention of the arrest of the fans. In April, another supporter of the Argentine team, Leonardo Ponzo, was arrested for racial slur for having imitated a monkey during the clash with Corinthians valid for the group stage, in Itaquera.
On that occasion, Boca used Twitter to apologize to Corinthians — Ponzo posted a R$3,000 bail and was released to respond in freedom.
According to delegate Cesar Saad, from Drade (Delegation for Repression and Analysis of Sports Intolerance Crimes), the increase in the amount of bail for the most recent cases is precisely due to recidivism.
“We decided to increase the bail because this Copa Libertadores has become a scene of racial slander that has not been seen for a long time,” said Saad.
In a note, Corinthians regretted what happened. “Sport Club Corinthians Paulista vehemently repudiates the racist acts that involved Argentine fans at Neo Química Arena,” the club said in a statement.
“Corinthians will proceed again with the appropriate complaints – which we will always do, until it is no longer necessary”, added the text.
Sought, Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) said through its advice that it “has a stance against racism and discrimination”, but did not issue any statement specifically about the case.
In May, when the teams faced each other in Argentina for the first phase, fans of the home team also made racist gestures against Corinthians. As a result of what happened, the Conmebol Disciplinary Court fined the Argentine team US$ 100,000 (R$ 518,000).
According to article 17 of the entity’s Code of Discipline, acts of racism can result in fines of at least US$ 100,000 and the possibility of the club playing with the stadium completely or partially closed.
After the 0-0 draw at Neo Química Arena, the two teams will face each other again for the round of 16 of Libertadores next Tuesday (5), in Argentina.
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