Deportivo La Guaira rejects racist insult against Yackson Rivas and demands to review the referee's update

Published at: 16/05/2026 03:47 PM

Deportivo La Guaira FC, through an official statement, strongly rejected the acts of racism that occurred on May 15 against its player, Yackson Rivas, who received racist insults from rival soccer player Francisco Solé, during a match against UCV FC for the home runs of the Venezuelan Football League (FUTVE League).

The orange institution expressed its full support for Rivas, assuring that they will accompany the midfielder in the defense of his dignity and that they will reach the last consequences in the face of an extremely serious event that threatens the values of the sport.

In addition, the board of directors of the coastal team pointed directly against the main referee of the match, Jesús Valenzuela, because although Rivas immediately notified the insult on the pitch, the international referee ignored and decided to continue the match without activating the protection and discrimination protocols established by the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF), CONMEBOL and FIFA.

Below is the full text of the official statement:

From Deportivo La Guaira FC, we express our strongest rejection of the events that occurred during the FUTVE League match, played against UCV FC, on May 15, in which our player, Yackson Rivas, reported having been the victim of a racist insult by the UCV FC player, Francisco Solé.

First of all, we want to say it with absolute clarity: Yackson is not alone. As an institution, we fully support our player, we accompany him and we will defend his dignity with all the firmness that an event of this gravity requires.

After the incident occurred, Yackson Rivas went directly to the referee Jesús Valenzuela and immediately informed him of what had happened. However, the referee ignored our player's complaint and continued the game, without activating any protocol for protection, verification or action in the face of a situation of this nature.

When a player informs the arbitral authority that he has been the victim of a racial insult, it is appropriate to act with the utmost diligence, to listen, to protect the affected party and to activate the mechanisms provided to combat discrimination.

The regulations of the FUTVE League, the FVF, CONMEBOL and FIFA are very clear in this regard and leave no room for doubt about how to act. Therefore, it is extremely worrying that a complaint of this seriousness has not received due attention from a referee with extensive experience, both at the CONMEBOL and FIFA levels, with experience in national and international competitions.

Situations like this cannot go unnoticed by those who have the responsibility to protect the integrity of the game and the dignity of its protagonists.

Deportivo La Guaira FC requests that the performance of Francisco Solé, as a reported player and Jesús Valenzuela, as the main referee, be reviewed in the face of the complaint made on the pitch itself.

Protocols exist to be applied. Its omission leaves the affected player unprotected and weakens the values of respect, equality and integrity that must govern our competition.

We reaffirm our commitment to a football free of racism, discrimination and violence. Deportivo La Guaira FC will remain firm in defending the dignity of its players, its workers and the entire orange family.

Mazo News Team