Paula Dapena is 24 years old and defines herself as a radical feminist. Her commitment to equality led this girl, a Viajes InterRías FF player, to turn her back on Maradona on the football field while the sports community mourned her death. Instead of keeping a minute of silence before playing against Deportivo in Abegondo, Dapena decided to sit on his back, as a sign of support for the victims of gender-based violence. El Periódico de Catalunya, from the same publishing group of Diari de Girona, interview the player
His image breaking the minute of silence surprised the whole society, also his team?
Ever since the news of Maradona was known last Wednesday, I have taken a stand. I said his death had been poetic justice because it squared with a 25-N. My team was aware of what I thought about him, but even though they knew I didn’t want to participate in the tribute, they didn’t expect it. They thought it would hold me back when I did.
When did you decide to plant?
I found out three hours before the match that the Spanish Federation had issued a statement saying that a minute of silence should be observed for Maradona and I said to myself “I will not do it”. At the time of jumping on the field, the teammates and the coaching staff were commenting on it and I told them that I would not do it, that if necessary I would turn around and sit on the floor. And so it was.
Why was it important for you to turn your back on Maradona in the field?
A few days ago it was November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence, and he dies. There is not a minute of silence for the victims, but for Maradona, someone who is known both for what he did inside and outside the field and who, precisely, is not to be proud of. That’s why I didn’t pay tribute to him.
National and international public opinion echoed his gesture, was this reaction expected?
Not at all. I thought that I would stay among my followers on social media and that I would not get out of it, at least I would know in Pontevedra. But the news went around the world and I freaked out quite a bit.
Would you do it again?
Yes, especially because of the amount of offended people there are. Having so many people offended means it’s doing well. And also for all the messages of support and support I have from colleagues, fighting and responding to threats and insults on social media.
The gesture has been widely criticized on social media, and has come to arouse hatred on platforms such as Twitter.
Yes, the truth is that I did not find it disrespectful. I could have broken the minute of silence by shouting, but I just turned around and sat down because it looked like I disagreed, but I allowed him to be honored. Let me be criticized for not agreeing with the gesture, okay, but not for them to do it to colleagues to support me on the networks. They have received death threats, it is not nonsense.
She defines herself as a radical feminist but as a player, do you think she has a lot left to advance in football in terms of equality?
Obviously steps have been taken and women’s football is becoming more and more recognized, but much remains to be done. It has been seen that defending a person like Maradona just for being a good footballer, and it is something that cannot be allowed. I hope my gesture serves as an example to other people.
Death threats
When Paula Dapena decided to turn around, sit down and break the lineup so as not to keep a minute of silence for Maradona’s death she didn’t think her gesture would have such an impact. His spontaneous follow-up, which sought to raise awareness of the dark past in terms of gender violence of the renowned footballer, achieved its purpose: to open debate.
Since the image went viral, interviews in national and international media have not let him breathe, but while the support, he admits, has been immense, so has the criticism. Teasing, insults and even death threats have filled her profiles on social media like Instagram or Twitter, which is why the player has been forced to close her accounts to the public.
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