Veteran Liga MX coach Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti has come under fire for sexist and homophobic comments he used during a press conference after his team’s final game of the regular season at Tigres.
Known for kicking off his press conferences by giving reporters the first questions, he opened this post-game press by asking the media if there were “old ladies” among the journalists present. He then followed that pejorative comment using a homophobic slur to ask if there would be any gay reporters asking questions. With no media reaction, he said, “So we have all the males here.” That was greeted by audible laughter from some of those in the press room.
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The league and its club have not released any disciplinary action at the time of publication.
The 67-year-old’s comments go against public efforts by the league and the Mexican soccer federation to eradicate a homophobic chant used in Mexican soccer games. They have led to a multitude of fines by the world governing body, FIFA, and a ban on fans from home games for the Mexican national team. The last of those sanctions was delivered on November 1– Ban on fans for the next two World Cup qualifying matches and a $ 110,000 fine. The specter of a possible point deduction or expulsion from the tournament by FIFA still hangs over Mexico as long as the problem persists.
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Ferretti, who has long had a reputation for fiery outbursts and open interviews, is in his first season as a coach at FC Juárez. He joined the club after a nearly 11-year stint at Tigres UANL, the Monterrey-based club where he enjoyed the most success as a coach in Mexico’s top division. Tigres beat FC Juárez 3-0 on Saturday, leaving the Ciudad Juárez Braves in 16th place in the final standings. With a 4W-9L-4D record, they finished four points behind a playoff spot.
Given the background to FIFA’s troubles and the high-profile nature of this incident, some media outlets anticipate severe punishment against Ferretti. This is how some have reacted to hearing Ferretti’s comments.
Note: The embedded posts below contain videos that include offensive language:
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This is embarrassing, regrettable and intolerable. LigaMX must act immediately and Tuca should watch football on TV for many years. https://t.co/Idwr5uljHq
– Fernando Palomo ESPN (@fernandopalomo) November 8, 2021
El Tuca should receive an exemplary sanction from the Liga Mx … If the same protagonists still do not understand it, there will be NO campaign that will serve to eradicate the cry … pic.twitter.com/4sQ0jHSCIF
– Fernando Cevallos (@FerCevallosF) November 8, 2021
If we condemn the scream, we should condemn the regrettable comments of ‘Tuca’.
I prefer to belong to the so-called “crystal” generation, because at least we question what is right or wrong to move forward. https://t.co/V9Oni9Qk0W– María Fernanda Mora (@ marifermora90) November 8, 2021
Here the Tuca talking about old women, fags and males. He does not understand that he does not understand. He’s a pitiful character. pic.twitter.com/SV9d9EOkzl
– José Pablo Coello Diez de Bonilla (@JosePabloCoello) November 8, 2021
When you hear this, you see that machismo, homophobia and sexism govern our soccer structurally. (Leagues, teams, players, media, fans) but the giggle of the reporters warns that there is no commitment to break it! pic.twitter.com/YBvJnrjiSv
– Georgina González Toussaint (@Geo_Gonzalez) November 8, 2021
I do not know what is more pathetic, if the way in which the Tuca refers to women (old) and homosexuals (fags) or the laughter and laughter of those present there celebrate everything to Mr. pic.twitter.com/6Ge6rmr5VP
– Jesús Barrón (@BarronSports) November 8, 2021
