Memphis Depay, the former Manchester United forward, is under investigation by CONMEBOL for making an "offensive" gesture during a Copa Libertadores match.
Depay, who played for Manchester United between 2015 and 2017, currently plays for Corinthians in Brazil. His team has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores after a 1-1 draw against Estudiantes in the first leg of their tie. The incident occurred in the second half of the match, following Corinthians' equalizing goal, when Depay was seen making a gesture towards the home fans while his teammates celebrated.
Estudiantes has filed a formal complaint with CONMEBOL regarding the gesture, stating it was "undeniably directed towards our stands." The club has expressed concerns that Depay could face a ban, though the exact number of games he might miss remains unclear.
Corinthians has stated that Depay is likely to play in the second leg of the quarter-final. The club noted that the deadline for submitting a defense to CONMEBOL is September 17, which is one day after the second leg match. Corinthians intends to submit their defense to prevent any sanctions against the player.
This incident follows recent public disagreements between Depay and Corinthians. Earlier this summer, Depay expressed disappointment on social media regarding the club's alleged failure to honor an agreement to extend his contract. He accused some individuals within the club of breaching an engagement that had been agreed upon by the club's president, as well as its sporting, legal, and financial departments. Depay stated he was prepared to take strong action to protect his interests. A new contract was eventually agreed upon after Depay accepted a significant pay cut, with the club citing financial constraints as the reason for the initial difficulty in extending his deal.
