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Dark clouds surround the playing future of Italian bright spark Iván Nemer. The Argentine prop fit in well at Benetton and quickly earned a call-up to the test team. His name was not on the recent Italian roster announcement for the 2023 Six Nations with the reason now known.
As a joke, Nemer gave a rotten banana to Benetton teammate Cherif Traoré as a Secret Santa gift. The action saw an uproar on social media with calls for an investigation into racism. A native of Kindia, Guinea, Traoré moved to Italy as a child. Nemer was the player that gave Traoré the gift.
Nemer apologized for the action and showed regret for his behavior. The FIR have taken the action of suspending the prop from playing for six months. This means that Nemer will not play in the Six Nations nor again for Benetton during the 2022-2023 United Rugby Championship (URC) season. His place on the Italian roster for the World Cup is now in serious doubt.
Nemer’s suspension will run until June 30, 2023. He was also fined 2500 euros. The FIR accepted Nemer’s apology for the incident.
Italy will compete in Pool A at Rugby World Cup 2023. They will do so alongside France, Namibia, New Zealand, and Uruguay. Italy will begin their campaign against Namibia in St. Etienne on September 09.
The Argentine showed regret in accepting the error of his behavior. He commented:
“Racism has not played and nor will it ever play a role in my life, just as it should not play a role in the lives of any of us. I am deeply sorry for what happened, the stupidity of my gesture, the damage caused to a friend, the damage done to my team, my teammates, the country I represent and the sport that I love.”
“I am from a multicultural country that is Argentina, where cultures have mixed together for more than a century, and I have always shared the locker room and the field with colleagues and friends from all over the world. What took place does not represent me; however, at the same time should make me and make us reflect on how much remains to be done to change our culture, to overcome the rudest stereotypes, and bring us closer to each other than is already so”
“I accept my suspension and the pathway of reinsertion with serenity; however, above all I trust in the months and years to come that I may be able to contribute through my testimony so that more and more young rugby players can become aware of issues that must be addressed and understood to make not only our sport better, but also the world that we live in.”
