Paraguayan Football Club Reverses Dress Code After Photographer Protests
A proposed dress code for media professionals by Sportivo Ameliano was met with backlash and subsequently withdrawn.
First-division Paraguayan football club Sportivo Ameliano has reversed a controversial dress code that it had proposed for media professionals. The policy, intended to maintain the club's "institutional image," was criticized for being overly restrictive and potentially targeting female photographers.
The dress code, announced ahead of a home match against Olimpiana, banned revealing outfits for both male and female reporters and photographers. Specific restrictions included a ban on "low-cut blouses" and "exposure of the navel." Additionally, women were prohibited from wearing leggings that were not black or dark blue.
Photographer Adriana Caballero, 29, publicly voiced her objections, stating that the request felt targeted and could impede her colleagues' work. Caballero, who has a significant following on Instagram, noted that she prioritizes comfortable attire for her job and that such a restriction was bound to arise eventually.
Following widespread criticism on social media, the club's president, Héctor Melgarejo, intervened. Melgarejo stated that the dress code had been issued without the management's approval and described it as "madness." He asserted that members of the press should be permitted to dress as they feel comfortable.
The incident gained attention partly due to Caballero's substantial online presence.
This situation drew parallels to a recent event in the Czech Republic, where a football coach appeared to deliberately avoid looking at a reporter during a post-match interview, a moment that also went viral online.
The club's initial announcement was communicated through a poster shared with media professionals.
