Photo: Manuel Arnoldo Robert Batalla / Getty Images
Within the framework of the Costa Rican soccer league, Municipal Pérez Zeledón y Limón FC faced each other in a match. The local newspaper, La Teja , wrote a review of the meeting and on the cover titled “ Pérez scared away the gorilla ”. . Through his Twitter account claimed to be against this type of behavior and discrimination.
Today in a shameless and implausible way, the national newspaper @ LaTejacr placed the following headline on its cover. “Pérez scared the gorilla” clearly racist headline, and in his photo you can see a player from Limón and another from Pérez Zeledón. (Image attached) pic.twitter.com/CykofXHZr6
– Isaac C. Claxton (@isaclax 27) April 19, 2021
“ The Costa Rican Football Federation strongly condemns the cover of evident racist connotations by the newspaper La Teja (…) football should be a tool for social transformation and it is the obligation of the media to transmit messages that go along the lines of building values. From the Fedefútbol, we will always be against any kind of discrimination ”, declared the highest Tico football entity, in the statement.
Official statement of the position of the Costa Rican Football Federation on the cover published this Sunday by the La Teja newspaper. pic.twitter.com/PfUIzZhngL
– FEDEFUTBOL Costa Rica (@fedefutbolcrc) April 18, 1200
For its part, the team Limon FC expressed its disagreement with the headline released by the media . ” (…) violates all ethical and journalistic criteria. In the XXI century it is unacceptable that these things occur, much less from a media outlet. The cover of La Teja, which outrages all of us who fought against this scourge, shows that in our country there are than to work more in education, since journalism professionals are still prey to ancestral prejudices, “the club emphasized in a statement posted on its website.
⛔️ Press release
More details: https://t.co/ sRVVb2HsP3 # greener than ever # LemonFC # 60Anniversary pic.twitter.com/KMWbQ5Uvky
– Limón Fútbol Club (@LatrombaLimon)
April 18, 1200
Response of the medium
Finally, Rubén Rodríguez , director of the newspaper, explained the intention of the headline claiming that it was misinterpreted . “ With these titles would exalt the pressure Perez Zeledon, led by Paulo Cesar Wanchope Don, he took off with the valuable triumph over Limón 3 to 2 member of this media wanted to give (…) people who were offended ”, concluded Rodríguez.
