Pablo Matera will have to complete an anti-discrimination educational programme if he hopes to regain the Argentina captaincy.
The 27-year-old along with team-mates Guido Petti and Santiago Socino were briefly suspended for racist comments posted on social media between 2011 and 2013.
READ | ‘I WAS AN IMMATURE BOY’, SAYS PABLO MATERA AFTER RACIST TWEET ROW
The suspensions were lifted when their team-mates threatened to strike ahead of their final Tri-Nations match against the Wallabies.
Following a four-week ‘exhaustive investigation process’, the Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) said ‘the damage caused’ by the posts ‘must be remedied’.
‘All racist, xenophobic and discriminatory comments are categorically condemned,’ the statement continued.
‘Education so that these attitudes are not repeated, as well as showing remorse and remediation, are complementary to punitive actions (not applicable in this case because of the time passed since the posts) to effectively treat this problem.’
MATERA MUST COMPLETE A 6-HOUR COURSE
In order to be eligible for future selection, the three players must participate in a six-hour course to learn how prejudices arise and the consequences these can have.
They must also record a video with educational content about discriminatory and prejudiced stereotypes which will be used as a teaching resource for players, then spend two days sharing their experiences on this topic as part of a course.
‘The UAR will monitor the fulfilment of these activities to resolve the question of eligibility for future participation in the national side and/or eligibility to captain the side, questions that will be resolved in their own time.
‘The eligibility of the three players remains subject to the fulfilment of the imposed restorative measures and Pablo Matera’s captaincy is not guaranteed until the restorative measures are satisfactorily fulfilled,’ the statement added.
