FILE - From left, Italy's Ivan Nemer, Argentina's Facundo Isa, and Italy's Gianmarco Lucchesi fight for the ball during a rugby union international match between Italy and Argentina at the Monigo stadium in Treviso, Italy, on Nov. 13, 2021. Benetton and Italy prop Ivan Nemer was suspended until the end of the season on Friday Jan. 27, 2023 after giving a rotten banana to a Black teammate. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini, File)
FILE - From left, Italy's Ivan Nemer, Argentina's Facundo Isa, and Italy's Gianmarco Lucchesi fight for the ball during a rugby union international match between Italy and Argentina at the Monigo stadium in Treviso, Italy, on Nov. 13, 2021. Benetton and Italy prop Ivan Nemer was suspended until the end of the season on Friday Jan. 27, 2023 after giving a rotten banana to a Black teammate. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini, File)
“Racism has never had and will never have any role in my life, as it should never have in the life of each of us,†Nemer said in a statement he asked the federation to issue.
“I regret deeply what happened, the stupidity of my gesture, the upset it caused to a friend, the fact that I caused damage to my team, to my teammates, to the country I represent and the game I love.â€
Nemer will also have to attend a training and awareness program and his future involvement with the national team depends on how well he performs in it.
The 24-year-old Nemer was born in Argentina and has made 11 appearances for Italy.
“I come from a multicultural country like Argentina, where cultures have been mixing for over a century and I have always shared the dressing room and the field with teammates and friends that come from all over the world,†Nemer added. “What happened doesn’t represent me, but at the same time it should make me reflect on what still has to be done to change our culture, overcoming the most vulgar stereotypes.
“I accept the suspension and the path of reintegration with calmness but above all I’m confident that in the upcoming months and years I can contribute with my experience to help young rugby players be more sensitive to these matters that should be faced and understood to make not only our sport better, but the world in which we live.â€
Twelth-ranked Italy is coached by former All Black Kieran Crowley, who coached the Canada men from March 2008 to January 2016.