Memphis Depay facing disciplinary action from CONMEBOL
Memphis Depay, the former Manchester United attacker who turned out 53 times for the Red Devils between 2015 and 2017, is the subject of disciplinary proceedings launched by South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL, reports BritPanorama.
The 32-year-old Dutchman, currently playing for Brazilian side Corinthians, directed a middle finger towards Estudiantes supporters during the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarter-final tie. The match in Argentina finished level at 1-1, leaving Corinthians as slight favourites to progress to the semi-finals.
However, this result has been overshadowed by Depay’s provocative conduct, which has elicited a formal response from the Argentine club and could yet result in a suspension for the forward. The flashpoint occurred after Estudiantes took the lead through Alexis Castro, with Corinthians substitute Kaio Cesar later equalising.
As Depay’s teammates celebrated, the Dutchman raised his middle finger towards the home supporters, prompting a swift and hostile reaction from the Estudiantes faithful. A chorus of boos erupted, accompanied by projectiles thrown onto the pitch. Depay subsequently approached the match official to allege that an object had been thrown at him, further heightening tensions during an otherwise tightly contested encounter.
In response, Estudiantes confirmed they had “filed a complaint with the CONMEBOL disciplinary unit regarding the offensive gestures made by opposing player Memphis Depay, which were undeniably directed towards our stands.” Corinthians, on the other hand, has rallied behind their player, noting that the deadline for submitting a defence, set by CONMEBOL, is September 17, one day after the Copa Libertadores quarter-final second leg. “Therefore, any potential sanction would only be applied after the ruling,” they added.
Given the timeline, it appears likely Depay will feature in the decisive second leg, although any subsequent matches could be impacted should CONMEBOL impose a ban. This high-profile incident is the latest chapter in a fractious relationship between Depay and Corinthians, as just this summer, he publicly accused the club of reneging on a mutually agreed contract extension. Depay expressed disappointment over the club’s decision not to honour their agreement and underscored that the renewal had been “explicitly agreed upon by the president as well as the sporting, legal and financial department,” warning he would “not leave this unacceptable behaviour unsanctioned.”
Despite current challenges, it’s clear that Depay remains a player of significant interest, both on and off the pitch, highlighting the unpredictable nature of football where the lines between sport and drama often blur.
