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There have, of course, been many different tributes to Diego Maradona all over the world, across a variety of sports.
One of these, from the New Zealand All Blacks, has caused quite the stir in Argentina. Not because of what they did - but their opponents, the Pumas, didn't do.
One of these, from the New Zealand All Blacks, has caused quite the stir in Argentina. Not because of what they did - but their opponents, the Pumas, didn't do.
The Argentina rugby side has long been a favourite of neutrals. Its achievements on next to no financial resources have been incredible; one day, Argentina will probably win the Rugby World Cup. And this year, they even beat New Zealand: a monumental accomplishment.
But they're now facing a public relations disaster, and have turned many Argentinians against them. Understandably so. Why? Several reasons.
1. The Pumas made no special tribute to Maradona. None at all. This was just plain odd. Inexplicable. And really, inexcusable.
1. The Pumas made no special tribute to Maradona. None at all. This was just plain odd. Inexplicable. And really, inexcusable.
2. New Zealand DID make such a tribute.
https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/1332654278519951362
3. Incomprehensibly, no Puma on the field so much as picked the jersey up or thanked the All Blacks at that moment
4. All this got Twitter sleuths doing a bit of research. What they uncovered was disgusting.
https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/1332654278519951362
3. Incomprehensibly, no Puma on the field so much as picked the jersey up or thanked the All Blacks at that moment
4. All this got Twitter sleuths doing a bit of research. What they uncovered was disgusting.
A whole series of grotesquely racist, sexist, hateful, antisemitic past tweets from:
- Pablo Matera
- Guido Petti
- Santiago Socino
What these tweets reveal about the culture of Argentinian rugby is as alarming as can possibly be imagined. The public is DISGUSTED.
- Pablo Matera
- Guido Petti
- Santiago Socino
What these tweets reveal about the culture of Argentinian rugby is as alarming as can possibly be imagined. The public is DISGUSTED.
Matera's hideous past catalogue includes racist tweets about black people, Bolivians, Paraguayans; hatred of the poor and disgusting caricatures of maids.
Petti's include horrendous misogyny, sexism and racism.
Socino's feature violent antisemitism and more horrible sexism.
Petti's include horrendous misogyny, sexism and racism.
Socino's feature violent antisemitism and more horrible sexism.
This isn't some minor social media storm in a teacup at all. That nobody called these people out at any point before the past couple of days is astonishing.
And it all plays into a rapidly deepening malaise in rugby culture in this part of the world. A frightening one.
And it all plays into a rapidly deepening malaise in rugby culture in this part of the world. A frightening one.
I've never quite understood why - but rugby union is, of course, generally played by the upper middle and higher classes in many parts of the world. England, Scotland, Ireland. Australia, Argentina, Uruguay. Historically, it was the white man's sport in South Africa too.
In fact, only in New Zealand, Wales and the Pacific Islands does it not have this image; and those places are the only ones among rugby's traditional nations where it is the national sport.
In this part of the world, the problem is particularly extreme.
In this part of the world, the problem is particularly extreme.
Only rich Argentinians and Uruguayans go to private school in countries with appalling state education systems and where poverty and inequality are rampant. So there's a huge amount of class division and resentment. Which rugby increasingly embodies.
Whereas Maradona was a true man of the people, the Pumas represent... private schools. The rich. Or as Uruguayans derisively refer to arrogant snobs from Buenos Aires: "Porteños".
Those sorts - who look down on EVERYONE, and are so rude, it's unbelievable - are loathed here.
Those sorts - who look down on EVERYONE, and are so rude, it's unbelievable - are loathed here.
And why? Because rugby players - especially teenagers or early-20-somethings - can be found inside and outside nightclubs here showing off their physiques, getting into fights with people less than half their size, and generally behaving like utter cocks of the walk.
Something about rugby players in Argentina and Uruguay, both hideously macho societies, means that many of them LOVE to fight. Not with people their own side, you understand; people they can crush. Even: people they can kill.
In January of this year, Argentinian teenager, Fernando Baez Sosa, was beaten to death by TEN rugby players. Six of them continued to beat him when he was already on the ground. They kicked him in the head and left him unconscious.
Adding further insult to the heartbreak they caused that poor young man's family, these ten utter vermin then denounced a totally innocent man. All ten are now awaiting trial.
But the Argentinian Rugby Union? It expressed sorrow for the 'death' of Fernando. Not his murder.
But the Argentinian Rugby Union? It expressed sorrow for the 'death' of Fernando. Not his murder.
Just as it has selected these vile racists, misogynists and antisemites. The whole rot starts at the very top. Nothing is being done to tackle an odious, violent culture.
It gives me no pleasure to write this given the immense achievements of Los Pumas and Los Teros.
It gives me no pleasure to write this given the immense achievements of Los Pumas and Los Teros.
But far too many rugby players in both countries come from rich families which vote for the right, profited from fascism and which despise the poor and minorities.
That's why the tweets are no surprise. They're all part of the same thing.
That's why the tweets are no surprise. They're all part of the same thing.
The international rugby authorities have to wake up to what's going on here. And writers like @stephenjones9 should be paying attention and not romanticising the Pumas while ignoring the horrendous problems with rugby around the River Plate. It's a disaster.
