South American Soccer President Apologizes for Comparing Brazilian Clubs to Tarzan's Chimp

FILE - Alejandro Dominguez, president of CONMEBOL, enters the stadium during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match between Venezuela and Canada, July 5, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - Alejandro Dominguez, president of CONMEBOL, enters the stadium during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match between Venezuela and Canada, July 5, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
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South American Soccer President Apologizes for Comparing Brazilian Clubs to Tarzan's Chimp

FILE - Alejandro Dominguez, president of CONMEBOL, enters the stadium during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match between Venezuela and Canada, July 5, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - Alejandro Dominguez, president of CONMEBOL, enters the stadium during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match between Venezuela and Canada, July 5, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Alejandro Domínguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL, apologized Tuesday for his remarks the previous day comparing Brazilian clubs to a chimpanzee from Tarzan films.
Domínguez told journalists the previous night after the Copa Libertadores draw in Paraguay that the South American club tournament without Brazilian teams that have dominated it in recent years would be “like Tarzan without Cheetah.”
“Regarding my recent statement, I want to express my apologies,” Domínguez said in a statement. "The expression I used is a popular phrase and I never intended to belittle or discredit anyone. The CONMEBOL Libertadores is unthinkable without the participation of clubs from the 10 member countries. I reaffirm my commitment to continue working for a fairer, more united soccer, free from discrimination.”
CONMEBOL has been under increased pressure to act decisively against racism. Moments before his comment to journalists, Domínguez spoke in Portuguese and claimed CONMEBOL has worked hard to stop racism, The Associated Press reported. Several Brazilian players and fans have been targeted by monkey chants at away matches in recent years, which has also brought more pressure on the confederation's president to act.
The most recent case took place on March 6, when Palmeiras U-20 striker Luighi spoke with tears in his eyes about racism he had endured from fans of Paraguay's Cerro Porteno in a U-20 Copa Libertadores match. Later, CONMEBOL fined the club in $50,000 and banned its supporters from attending the tournament, which Brazilian clubs saw as a timid punishment.



Swiatek Recovers from 0-6 Loss in 1st Set to Beat Keys in Madrid Quarterfinals

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 30, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Madison Keys of the US REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 30, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Madison Keys of the US REUTERS/Ana Beltran
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Swiatek Recovers from 0-6 Loss in 1st Set to Beat Keys in Madrid Quarterfinals

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 30, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Madison Keys of the US REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 30, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Madison Keys of the US REUTERS/Ana Beltran

Iga Swiatek recovered after losing the first six games of the match to defeat Madison Keys 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 and stay on track to defend her title at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.
Swiatek was overpowered by Keys early in their quarterfinal but eventually found a way to rally past the fifth-ranked American on center court, The Associated Press reported.
“It was one of the weirdest matches I played,” the second-ranked Swiatek said. “Maddie was playing just perfectly at the beginning and I wasn’t really proactive with anything. I let Maddie do more mistakes by just putting the ball back and the momentum changed.”
It was the first meeting between the two since Swiatek squandered a match point in the semifinals of the Australian Open that was won by Keys.
Swiatek is trying to reach her third straight Madrid final. She beat Aryna Sabalenka last year after losing to her in 2023.
Sabalenka, the No. 1 player in the world, later faces 24th-seed Marta Kostyuk in her quarterfinal match.
Swiatek hasn’t gone past the semifinals at any tournament since last year’s French Open.
It was the second consecutive day without disruptions at the Caja Magica tennis complex following a major blackout on Monday that brought Spain and Portugal to a standstill and prompted more than 20 matches to be postponed.