Uruguayan fitness coach arrested for racism at Corinthians game

Uruguayan physical trainer Sebastian Avellino Vargas, from the Peruvian football club Universitario, was arrested red-handed last Tuesday night (11). The 43-year-old professional was arrested on charges of racism against Corinthians fans during the match between the teams for the Copa Sudamericana, at Neo Química Arena, east of São Paulo. The Brazilians won 1-0. According to São Paulo’s Secretariat of Public Security (SSP), the physical trainer made racist gestures, imitating a monkey, towards Timão’s fans. The action, according to the note, drew the attention of military police who were guarding the stadium and witnesses would have confirmed the Uruguayan’s act. Vargas was taken to the 65th Police District (DP), in Artur Alvim, also on the east side of São Paulo, where the man gave testimony, with the help of a translator. According to the SSP, the case was registered at the 24th DP, in Ponte Rasa, east zone, as a result of race and color prejudice. The Uruguayan custody hearing was scheduled for this Wednesday afternoon (12), at the Minister Mário Guimarães Criminal Forum, in Barra Funda, west of São Paulo. According to the Court of Justice, there is still no timetable for the session, which will define whether Vargas will remain in custody or be released. In May last year, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) increased the amount of fines for clubs that are involved in cases of racism in competitions organized by the entity. The amount went from US$ 30,000 to US$ 100,000 (about R$ 480,000 at current exchange rates). In January of this year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned Law 14,532, which typifies racial injury as a crime of racism – which was already considered a crime in the country by Law 7,716, of 1989. With the sanction, the penalty was increased from one to three years to two to five years of imprisonment. * Article updated at 1:45 pm to correct, in the third paragraph, the Police District (DP) to which the physical trainer was taken, the 24th DP was initially informed.

Agência Brasil