The imitation of Felipe Melo’s chicken for River Plate fans! was fined
According to the Argentine Prosecutor’s Office, Felipe Melo prepared a video apologizing for provoking River Plate fans and posing as a chicken during the Conmebol Libertadores group stage match that Fluminense played at the Monumental de Núñez. The defender also had to pay a fine of 150,000 pesos.
The incident occurred on June 7 during the fifth matchday of Group D. Melo, a former Galatasaray player, became the center of attention by posing as chickens to River fans, who were called “chickens” by their local rivals. Then the Argentine police took action and considered that the defender was “inciting violence.”
According to the Prosecutor’s Office Specialized in Major Incidents of Argentina, the player incited chaos “every time he went to the locker room and made chicken gestures with both hands towards the stands of the venue.”
FELIPE MELO: SORRY
When posting a video after what happened, Melo used the following statements:
“I want to clarify that I was unaware that my conduct constituted a violation in the Argentine Republic, for which I apologize to anyone who felt offended by what happened. I had no intention of hurting or upsetting anyone or anyone who loves soccer, which is such a beautiful sport. Therefore, I leave my apologies here and once again emphasize the importance of peace and respect between us.”
Here the terms of the agreement made by Felipe Melo
- Obtain a residence and notify the Public Ministry of any change in said residence;
- Comply with subpoenas or requests from the Hearing Suspension Control Office, the Public Ministry or the court;
- Deliver the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) Argentine pesos.
- Recording of a corporate video with a message against violence in football, which must be posted on the Treasury’s social network, within a week of the approval of the Suspension of Prosecution agreement.
After the game, two local police officers went to the Fluminense locker room. They denounced Felipe Melo for “incitement to violence.”
Since he was not arrested and did not have to testify, the midfielder went to the bus and left the stadium normally along with the Fluminense delegation.