Argentine striker Carlos Tevez’s complaints about bad soccer refereeing in Brazil were taken personally by some women who are threatening to sue him for discrimination.
Tevez said in a televised interview last week that Brazilian league referees often persecuted Argentine players, and criticised the female line judges in Corinthians’ 3-2 loss to Sao Paulo in the Brazilian national championship.
”Women shouldn’t referee important games, like the classic with Sao Paulo,” he said.
Women bristled at the slight.
”His remarks were very unfortunate,” police inspector Margarette Gracia said in a radio interview on Tuesday.
She said the police intolerance crimes analysis and repression group asked for the videotape of the interview and that an unidentified rights group could file suit against Tevez.
Discrimination is a crime in Brazil.
”We live in an equal society. He put women in an inferior position,” Gracia said. ”Tevez is an idol and moulds the opinions of many youngsters. He should be more careful, because there’s an enormous repercussion.”
The Brazilian Bar Association will analyse his remarks for a possible lawsuit, she said.
”I also was offended,” Gracia said. ”It’s a man’s job, but today, any woman can do it. You know how many people I’ve arrested? More than a lot of men, you can believe it.”
Tevez did not immediately comment.
The striker was summoned by the Superior Court of Sports Justice for questioning about alleged offences by two Brazilian referees.
Tevez said referees had called him a ”lousy foreigner” and threatened to expel him from league games. – Sapa-AP