Brazilian defender Cristiano da Silva has denounced that Argentine forward Franco Coronel directed a discriminatory insult at the end of the match after Sporting Cristal's 3-1 victory over Alianza Atlético. The Peruvian Professional Football League has activated the corresponding protocol and elevated the case to the Disciplinary Committee due to a complaint for alleged racism that has shaken Peruvian football, as learned by the Argentine News Agency. The incident occurred after the third goal by the sky-blue side, scored in the 96th minute to seal the result, when, according to local media, at that moment Coronel allegedly told the defender, “Tú eres un macaco” (“you are a monkey”), which triggered an immediate reaction on the field and generated a strong confrontation between players from both teams. Da Silva first alerted the lineswoman and then the main referee, who applied the protocol for possible discriminatory acts, but from that decision, shoving, arguments, and a climate of maximum tension arose, which continued even after the final whistle, when the Brazilian defender sought explanations from the Argentine attacker in the locker room area and other players had to intervene to prevent the conflict from escalating. With the controversy installed, the tournament organization confirmed that it will review what happened and from the Peruvian Professional Football League they stated in a statement: “In the Peruvian Professional Football League, we categorically reject any act of discrimination, inside and outside the stadiums”. Additionally, from the organizing entity they clarified that “the case will be evaluated by the Disciplinary Committee and, if confirmed, the corresponding sanctions will be applied”. Sporting Cristal also took a position and publicly supported its player, as the club stated: “The Sporting Cristal Club expresses its most energetic rejection against the racist insult of which our player Cristiano Da Silva was a victim” and demanded a quick investigation with exemplary sanctions. Meanwhile, Alianza Atlético also rejected the acts: “Alianza Atlético rejects and categorically condemns any act of racism or discrimination inside and outside sports venues.”
