Racism Sparks Violence and Contract Termination in Batel vs Nacional Match
A racial slur during a Batel vs Nacional match led to violence, player dismissal, and official condemnations in Paraná's football community.
- • Batel's Diego racially insulted Nacional's Paulo Vitor during the match.
- • Paulo Vitor responded with a punch, resulting in his expulsion.
- • Diego's contract was terminated by Batel following the incident.
- • The Paraná Football Federation condemned the incident and will refer it to sports justice.
Key details
During the Taça FPF match on October 4, 2025, between Batel Guarapuava and Nacional-PR, a serious racism incident occurred when Batel midfielder Diego used the racial slur "macaco" (monkey) against Nacional defender Paulo Vitor. The verbal abuse led Paulo Vitor to react violently by punching Diego, who then required medical attention. Referee Diego Ruan Pacondes da Silva enforced FIFA's anti-racism protocol by crossing his arms in an "X," documenting the incident in his match report.
Paulo Vitor was expelled for his physical retaliation, while Diego remained on the field until the end, with Batel securing a 1-0 victory that eliminated Nacional from the tournament. Paulo Vitor expressed his outrage publicly, saying, "I want to express my indignation at the racism I suffered... I hope justice is served and that cases like this are addressed seriously."
In response, Batel immediately terminated Diego's contract, affirming their commitment to respect and equality and condemning racism unequivocally. The Paraná Football Federation also denounced the incident and stated the matter will be forwarded to the Paraná Sports Justice Tribunal for further action, underscoring their dedication to combating racism in football.