Argentine midfielder Franco "Mudo" Vázquez has been suspended for 10 matches in the Serie B of Italy after being accused of making a racist insult towards Algerian footballer Mehdi Dorval from Bari. The sanction, confirmed almost a month after the incident occurred on February 17, will keep him out of the remaining nine matches of the regular phase and the first match of the playoffs, should his team, Cremonese, qualify.
The punishment is a significant blow for Cremonese, which currently occupies fourth place in the standings and is fighting both for direct promotion and a spot in the playoffs. Vázquez is a key player in the team's scheme, and his absence could affect the performance of the Lombard side in the final stretch of the tournament.
The controversy erupted after the 1-1 draw between Cremonese and Bari, when the rival team's coach, Moreno Longo, reported in a press conference that Vázquez had insulted Dorval with discriminatory expressions. "We heard a seriously offensive phrase: 'fucking black,'" Longo stated, visibly upset.
However, the club defended its player and denied the accusations. "We spoke with the player, and he firmly denied having made racist insults against his colleague from Bari," stated Paolo Armenia, general director of Cremonese. "I deeply regret for Dorval and I'm also saddened to mention Vázquez, but we can no longer stay silent. In 2025, we are tired of continuing to talk about these things," he added.