Brazil TV commentator 'arrested' on racism charges

TV commentator in Brazil arrested for racist jibe

Rio de Janeiro, April 15 (IANS) A football television commentator in Brazil has been arrested on racism charges after allegedly calling a player a monkey.

Lourival Santos, from the television channel Rede Massa, has been accused of making the comments during a match between Londrina and Maringa in the Parana state league Sunday, reports Xinhua.

The remark was in reference to a goal celebration by Londrina defender Maicon Silva.

Officer Clovis Galvao, from the Parana civil police, confirmed the offence to media. It is understood Santos was released after questioning.

Rede Massa released a statement Monday “repudiating and condemning all and any act of racism”.

“The commentator Lourival Santos has been removed from his activities (with the station),” the statement said.

Santos could not be immediately reached for comment.

Sunday’s incident is the latest in a series of racism claims to hit Brazilian football. Last month Brazil President Dilma Rousseff expressed her concern at the rise in reported race-based abuse on Twitter.

“It’s inadmissible that Brazil, the country with the largest black population out of Africa, has racism issues,” Rousseff said.

Rousseff has also vowed to make the anti-racism message a theme of this year’s FIFA World Cup.