Player Detained for Racism in the Copa Libertadores Again

After Cruzeiro’s 3-1 victory over Gremio, Maxi Lopes from Gremio was detained by two police officers. The accusation: racism. Cruzeiro’s Elicarlos accused the Argentinean forward of calling him “macaco” (monkey). The term is usually used in Argentina when trying to offend a Brazilian.

During the match, the two players had an argument. After the match, Elicarlos brought that to the attention of the local police. Two officers went to Gremio’s locker room to get him. However, he was already on the bus with the other players, ready to go back to the hotel.

After a lot of arguing between security and police, Maxi Lopes was taken from the bus and ended up at the nearest police station. There, him and his teammates were put face to face with Elicarlos, who kept the accusation. 20 minutes later, Gremio was allowed to go back to the hotel.

The case is similar to the 2005 arrest of Argentinean Desabato, who spent 36 hours in a Brazilian cell after supposedly saying racist words to Grafite in a Copa Libertadores match. At the time, the Wolfsburg forward played for Sao Paulo. He dropped the case months later.

The moment Maxi Lopes supposedly offended Elicarlos:

The Desabato Case: