Gun-wielding Gutierrez slung out of Racing
Reuters - Monday 16 April 2012, 23:50
Controversial Colombia
striker Teo Gutierrez, who allegedly threatened his team-mates
with a paintball gun after being sent off in Saturday's 4-1
defeat at Independiente, will not play for Racing Club again.
"Teo will no longer be part of the professional squad," club
president Gaston Cogorno told reporters.
Trainer Alfio Basile, who has had two spells as Argentina
coach, resigned after the derby defeat which left Racing five
from bottom of the Clausura championship with nine points from
10 games. They are 11 points behind joint leaders Boca Juniors
and Newell's Old Boys.
Local media reported fighting in the Racing changing room at
Independiente as team mates turned on Gutierrez after a
senseless red card for insulting the referee left them with nine
men for the final 21 minutes on Saturday. The striker then
allegedly threatened them with a paintball gun.
"We will seek a mutual way out but [Gutierrez] won't play
for Racing again," Cogorno said of the 26-year-old who has been
sent off four times since joining the club from Trabzonspor of
Turkey in February 2011.
"I haven't talked to Teo but I did with his agent and the
investment group that brought him [to Racing] to explain to them
why he won't play [for the club] any more.
"People are tired of Teo's attitude," he added of the
striker.
Gutierrez irritated team-mates last year by returning late
from international duty with Colombia. He was still put in the
starting line-up by then coach Diego Simeone for that weekend's
key match at Boca Juniors only to get himself sent off for
pushing the referee for not awarding him a penalty.
The talented striker was joint top scorer of last year's
Clausura, second of two 19-match championships in the Argentine
season, with 11 goals. He has only netted nine this season, six
in the Apertura and three in the Clausura.
Racing have appointed 31-year-old Luis Zubeldia, who has
impressed at Lanus and Ecuador's Barcelona in his short coaching
career, as Basile's replacement.
"I feel privileged. It's what all coaches want, to train a
big club," Zubeldia told Racing TV. Seven-times league champions
Racing are one of Argentina's so-called Big Five.
At his presentation news conference, Zubeldia refused to be
drawn on Gutierrez.