Central defender Gustavo Marques, who represents Bragantino on loan from Benfica, made sexist comments about referee Daiane Muniz shortly after the club was eliminated from the Paulista Championship in a loss to São Paulo. His remarks on the sidelines were poorly received – even by his wife and mother – and Gustavo later had to apologize in the mixed zone. The player criticized the Paulista Football Federation for appointing a woman, stating that the referee "ruined" his team's game. "I think the Paulista Federation needs to look at games of this magnitude and not appoint a woman. It doesn't make sense for us to play against São Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians and have a woman officiate a game like this. With all due respect to women in the world, I am married, I have my mother, I apologize if I am saying something against women," the player initially declared. Gustavo Marques' statements landed like a bomb, prompting him to publicly retract, revealing that he had already apologized directly to referee Daiane Muniz and one of her assistants. "I want to come forward and apologize to all women for my statement. I know I am a human being and every human being makes mistakes. At that moment, I was hot-headed, I was nervous, I said things I shouldn't have. I am here being a man, being human, asking for forgiveness. My wife and my mother also reprimanded me, my wife insulted me. I realized I was wrong." According to the player, the referee accepted his apology. "She accepted my forgiveness. She told me to be careful because there are women who would not accept it. She saw that I was nervous, sad, and bitter," he concluded. The club also issued an apology: "Red Bull Bragantino publicly reinforces its apology to all women and, especially, to referee Daiane Muniz. The club does not condone and repudiates the sexist statement made by Gustavo Marques after the match. Still at the stadium, the player and the club's sporting director, Diego Cerri, went to the referees' locker room to apologize personally on behalf of the institution and acknowledge the mistake. Both also spoke to the press on site. We know that the weight of an elimination is frustrating, but nothing justifies what was said. Whether in football or in any area of society. The club will study in the coming days the punishment that will be applied to the athlete." The Paulista Football Federation (FPF) issued an official statement expressing "deep indignation and outrage" at the athlete's remarks, classifying them as a reflection of "a primitive, sexist, prejudiced, and misogynistic view, incompatible with the values that govern society and football." The FPF considered it "absolutely shocking that an athlete, under any circumstances, questions a referee's ability based on their gender" and reinforced its pride in having 36 female referees and assistants on its roster, praising Daiane Muniz as "a referee of the highest technical quality, correct and of character". The organization also confirmed that it will "forward such statements to the Sports Justice."
Benfica Gustavo Marques remains central to this story.
Benfica Gustavo Marques remains central to this story.
Read more in football news. and related tags: Benfica, Gustavo Marques.