No diplomacy. César Farías, the outgoing coach of América de Cali, confronted journalist Francisco Vélez, moderator of Espn’s F90 program, this Thursday during an interview with the television program.
After giving some explanations about his departure from the scarlet club, the Venezuelan coach unburdened himself and confronted Vélez for what he considered a series of “defamations and lies” by the communicator about his stay in the scarlet team.
“What is sad is that an attack is made against a person as a human being, because as a coach I can be good or I can be bad. This is an international program, and I say this to you with all due respect, I admire and respect you, Don Pacho, but this is a program that you see in my country too, that sometimes my parents watch it, that sometimes My friends see it and ask me these things. I tell you: you have been defaming me for days, it is not true and excuse me for having to categorically deny it, but the truth is that I am surprised by all the things you have said about me,” Farías began in response to the discomfort of the other protagonists of the commentary panel, among whom were former players Martín Arzuaga and Óscar Córdoba.
“What things?” Vélez asked.
“That I got into a fight, that I hit a coach, that I hit a lady, any number of things. Imagine if César Farías had hit someone here, the scandal that would have really arisen. Then, say that I have had a bad relationship with the players. That’s not true, but I can tell you something, if I paid attention to the things that they also say to me… for example, there is a man who goes by ‘clothing’, who they say is the one who wears his name. information to you. I have to believe that, no, I can’t believe in hairdresser gossip,” Farías shot, now a little more energetic and annoyed.
“I respect, I respect you, I have had consideration for you every time you interview me, because I have been watching you on television for years and because you are older than me. He deserves all the respect in the world, but I also as a human being deserve respect. You are defaming me and that is not correct, and this is an international chain that is seen in many countries. The truth is that I feel morally affected, because I have sons, because I have daughters and what you have said is not right. “I have audios and I have things that I don’t know, to take those things out… football taught me to have respect for people and life, but I also believe that I deserve a little respect from you for me,” added the former helmsman of the ‘Red Devils’.
After Farías’ discharge, ‘Pacho’ Vélez asked to speak and the discussion became much more agitated.
“Let’s go in parts. The first, here the person speaking to you has never said that you have raised your hand to a woman, show me where I said that, that is not true, it is unfortunately a defamation and a mistake on your part. I never get involved with the topic of women, never, knowing things, I don’t get involved in that topic, and you know very well what I’m talking about,” said the journalist before being interrupted by the DT.
“Knowing that? Say it… but say it. Say it, don’t leave things outside,” Farías demanded.
“No, Caesar. I’m not going to start talking right now, no, no, no. Let América and César Farías resolve this, I’m not going to start playing that issue on the air, I haven’t aired that issue on the air, César. I do not have to discuss with you the topic of something that I have not said, no, no, I have not spoken about that topic, what I have said here, and you must have the audio, is that in a ‘Desgarre’ match ‘, a team that exists in Cali, which is that normal game that they usually play on Saturday mornings or on a holiday, there was an encounter with you, you attacked someone, and the person who informed me was someone who was there.” said Farías.
“That was the only moment in which I referred to you in that episode of the ‘tear tear’, you cannot hold me responsible for the rest, because I have not touched that, and I invite you to show me an audio or a proof of this space where I have said that, because I don’t touch that, I never touch it and I never get involved in that,” Vélez added without mentioning names or specifying the situation to which he was referring, although it was clear that a woman was involved.
César Farías did not let his guard down and returned to the charge: “Mr. Vélez, you said publicly that I slapped a coach, I categorically deny it. That was not the case, I categorically deny that I had a clash with any player. They mention about Mr. (Edwin) Cardona, I tell him that I have a good relationship with Mr. Cardona. Today (Thursday) we talked, we agreed to have a coffee when I return from Medellín. We always maintained the best relationships, and all those things are left up in the air.”
“I can – Farías continued – be bad-tempered or my temperament betrays me, whatever you want, but I do not defame anyone, and I do defend my rights, I have named that and perhaps that will not please me. I have never fought with those who play on my team. I fight with rivals, it’s true, unfortunately I have made mistakes many times in fighting with opponents, but I don’t fight with the people where I am, and I categorically deny that. “You are saying things that you know who told you, but you have no proof that that is true, and that is not true.”
Farías once again demanded respect from Vélez, who closed the controversy in the following way: “I have nothing to add, I take responsibility for what I say, what I think and what I investigate as a journalist.”
