Controversy surrounds Argentine coach Ricardo Caruso Lombardi in Uruguay debut

Argentine Ricardo Caruso Lombardi during his debut as coach of the Uruguayan soccer club Miramar Misiones, at the Luis Franzini stadium in Montevideo (Uruguay). Those led by Caruso Lombardi fell at home 1-2 against Nacional. (EFE/Gastón Britos)

(From Montevideo, Uruguay) – Argentine coach Ricardo Caruso Lombardi announced this Wednesday that he will leave the management of Miramar Misiones after starring in a new controversy in Uruguay. The coach was sent off in the match against Liverpool (which ended with a 2-1 defeat) and, before leaving the field, he insulted the judge. “You fucking black guy,” he told him, and it was filmed. Lombardi’s insult generated a strong repudiation in Uruguay and a subsequent apology from the Argentine.

Lombardi will have a meeting this Wednesday with the leadership of Miramar Misiones and will announce his decision. “My position is to leave Miramar. I can’t go five games without leading my team. “They are going to give me a five-game suspension because they are going to use me as an example,” said the coach this Wednesday, interviewed on the 100% Deporte program on Sport 890.

The coach already told the leaders that he did not “feel good” about this situation. According to what he said, the club representatives have already been informed of the decision to expel him for five games.

Miramar Misiones coach Ricardo Caruso Lombardi insults a Uruguayan soccer referee: “Shitty black guy, you bastard”

“The referees and the rooms are very jealous about my issue after the match with Nacional. I’m not comfortable, I don’t feel good. They put 70 microphones on me, the camera focusing on me all the time, waiting for something from me,” he said in statements this Monday. His reference was that in the debut against Nacional, the coach had been very controversial with criticism of the use of VAR.

Lombardi said he felt “extra pressure” due to the media significance of his presence. “I don’t want to harm the club. I am not one to protest in the way I did on Monday. “I reacted badly and these are things that don’t usually happen to me,” he added.

The Argentine coach said that he called the referee Javier Feres – whom he insulted in the last game – who answered that he was happy with his call. Lombardi apologized for his expressions and explained that he reacted that way due to the expulsion of one of his players.

Caruso Lombardi, against the referee on his debut in Uruguay

“I realize when the referees treat me badly. I feel like the referees don’t like me. I come from a country where I am confronted with power, I am completely confronted with Tapia. Tapia is a friend of the president of the AUF,” he commented.

Then he added: “They told the leaders that they were going to give me a five-game suspension. With this panorama, I leave. I can’t go five games without directing, without entering the field. Yesterday I had a bitter day.”

Caruso’s comments provoked a reaction from the Uruguayan Association of Soccer Referees (Audaf), which classified the expressions as “racist.” “Audaf considers any manifestation of racism and other forms of violence absolutely unacceptable. It assumes and will always assume its share of responsibility in the fight against all types of discrimination,” the union said in a statement.

Caruso Lombardi, in his debut against Nacional

The Afro group Atabaque Uruguay, meanwhile, asked that Justice act after the Argentine coach’s expression. “Enough of impunity! Racism in football: let criminal justice act. It happens again and racist attacks accumulate and are normalized in areas of sport,” he said.

The manager of Miramar Misiones, Edgardo Lasalvia, had reported that Lombardi made his position available after the match against Liverpool. “He feels that there may be persecution due to his bad relationship with Chiqui Tapia and because of Tapia’s relationship with some judges. All of this exceeds what 11 against 11 is and Miramar must improve sportingly,” he commented on the Minuto 1 program on Carve Deportiva.

Lasalvia distanced himself from Lombardi’s statements. “He does not represent me or those of us who are part of the club,” he questioned.

2024-05-22 13:12:00
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