The first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 between Rosario Central and Corinthians turned contentious on August 13, 2026, at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario, Argentina. Following a scoreless draw, Rosario Central issued an official statement addressing accusations of racial discrimination made by Corinthians goalkeeper Hugo Souza, while also lodging complaints against the visiting club’s conduct.
According to reports from Infobae, the controversy erupted when the 27-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper alleged he was targeted with racist insults from the local stands throughout the fixture, an accusation that activated anti-racism protocols. Corinthians swiftly demanded strict disciplinary action from tournament organizers, prompting the Argentine club to release a detailed response via social media.
Rosario Central Rejects Racism and Requests Investigation
In its official statement released on Friday, August 14, 2026, Rosario Central stated that it “reprises its strong rejection of any act of racism, discrimination, and provocation in the context of a football match,” as reported by Infobae. The club maintained that visiting supporters engaged in provocative actions during and after the match, citing the display of national currency banknotes intended to mock the Argentine economy, alongside the exhibition of a Spanish national team jersey referencing Argentina’s recent World Cup final defeat.
Rosario Central announced plans to submit evidence to CONMEBOL regarding what it termed repeated provocations from Brazilian sides. Furthermore, the Argentine institution formally requested that CONMEBOL investigate the matter and ask the match referee to provide irrefutable proof supporting the goalkeeper’s claims, which the club described as having been made unilaterally.
Context of the Allegations and Disciplinary Stance
The Argentine club’s statement questioned the timing of the allegations, noting that Souza’s complaint surfaced after Corinthians was reduced to ten players following a red card, at a time when Rosario Central was pressing for a goal. Central asserted that discrimination is too serious an issue to be used as a tactical tactic for sporting convenience.
According to coverage from Infobae, club officials stated they had not found visual evidence supporting the accusations in the area of the pitch where the goalkeeper was stationed. Both clubs now await further review and potential disciplinary proceedings from CONMEBOL as preparations begin for the decisive second leg of the round of 16.
Keep reading
