'It's pathetic' - Zebo slams World Rugby's response to Argentina racism controversy
Simon Zebo has described World Rugby’s response to the recent racism controversy surrounding three Argentina players as ‘pathetic’. Speaking on the RugbyPass Offload podcast, Zebo said he felt let down by the actions of the sport’s governing body after racist social media posts made a number of years ago by Argentina’s Pablo Matera, Guido Petto and Santiago Socino recently resurfaced.
All three players were suspended by the UAR, with Matera also stripped of the captaincy, only for the UAR to reverse the decision and reinstate the players just two days later. Matera had posted an apology for his comments before deleting his social media accounts.
Asked about his thoughts on the controversy on the latest episode of the RugbyPass Offload, Zebo says he was shocked when he saw the social media posts, adding that he would ‘never’ play in the same team as Matera.
“It’s not as if those Tweets are 20 or 30 years ago, you know? They’re only 7-8 years ago, so it’s pretty disgusting,” Zebo said.
“You know, people say ‘Oh he can change’ or whatever, but I think if you’re saying things of that severity, I think you just probably get better at hiding it. Hiding your racism, I think that’s very prominent in this day and age. A lot of people are just closet racists.
“I’d never expect to have seen something like that. I’d never, ever, play in a team with him in the changing room, or someone who has done something like that in the past.
“It wasn’t exactly a slip of the tongue or something, that’s literally one of the worst things you can say or one of the worst mentalities you can have.
“And I’ve spoken to people who know him and they say he’s had a tough childhood and he’s been through a lot, so you can understand, but sorry, you can’t understand anything (about those posts). I just understand the point of view that he might have changed and rugby might have helped him grow, but I still think he’s just better at hiding it like a lot of other racists.
“But the more disappointing thing would be World Rugby, for sure, that it took them (almost) two weeks to say something. They said they were investigating or trying to find out (what had happened), but the Tweets are there, black and white. You look at them, you read them. Surely they’ve had dialogue with the UAR before this, so I just think it’s very disappointing.”
World Rugby initially stayed quiet on the matter before issuing a statement earlier this week, where the governing body said they welcome an investigation into the matter.
However Zebo feels their response has been hugely unsatisfactory, pointing out that the statement arrived a few days after former England international Ugo Monye heavily criticised World Rugby on BT Sport.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1336623886469902338
“I knew something would be said (by World Rugby) as soon as Ugo said that on BT Sport, I knew something would be said straight away,” Zebo added. “It was just pathetic. I am very disappointed.
“He’s (Monye) the first person that came out and said that he was disappointed in World Rugby, and properly had a go at them. Everything up until then had been just specifically about Matera and the comments, pretty much. World Rugby hadn’t been highlighted like they were by Ugo, brilliantly. And literally it was the next day or two days later that they released an official statement.
“I just think it’s very, very poor form.”
The Racing 92 full-back believes the way the issue has been handled suggests World Rugby are not serious on combating racism.
'The person he is now probably doesn’t reflect what he wrote on those days, (but) it’s not an excuse'https://t.co/kHps0yv40o
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 8, 2020
“It just shows you that it’s just ticking a box (dealing with racism). They’re just keeping up with the trend. It’s not at the forefront of their mind, it’s not something that they’re trying their hardest to eradicate, clearly, if it’s taken them over two weeks to say something. But that’s something in general (they have said in the statement), it’s not even something specific. They’ve had weeks to come up with change that they could enforce or punishment that they could enforce, or something. But no, two weeks, and they just say b******* basically, that ‘Oh yeah, we’re looking at the situation.’ Get out of here, like, it’s pathetic.
“You know, what a moment for World Rugby to stamp a mark on the subject of racism and to be involved, put the arm around the shoulders of those people and players who are representing the sport, but they didn’t. They failed massively and it’s very disappointing.
“Like, the tweets were just… How can you write something like that? To even think about something like that and then put it into words? It’s one of the worst things you can do in terms of racism.
“But yeah, I’m just completely let down by the whole situation as a brown person playing the sport.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments