Estudiantes files complaint against Memphis Depay with CONMEBOL over obscene gesture in Corinthians match

The celebration lasted only a few seconds, but it could prove costly. Memphis Depay scored Corinthians' equalizer against Estudiantes and chose to celebrate with a gesture that did not go unnoticed in La Plata: he raised his middle finger toward the main stand at Estadio UNO-Jorge Luis Hirschi.

The goal itself was a fine piece of finishing. Kaio César slipped in behind Benedetti and calmly finished past the onrushing Muslera to make it 1-1 in the first leg of the 2026 Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. As he ran off to celebrate, Depay directed the gesture toward the section where the home fans were standing, a moment caught on camera that quickly went viral.

Estudiantes did not let the incident slide. On Thursday, the club issued a statement confirming it had already filed a formal complaint with CONMEBOL's Disciplinary Unit over what happened. The statement did not mince words, confirming the club had made "a submission to CONMEBOL's Disciplinary Unit over the offensive gestures made by opposing player Memphis Depay, directed unequivocally at our fans."

The club went further, laying out the basis for its complaint. According to the statement, the filing cites articles 14.1.b).(IV) and 14.1.b).(V) of the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code, provisions that address unsporting conduct toward players, officials, opponents or other individuals unconnected to officiating, whether through statements that violate a person's dignity or through gestures that run counter to good sporting order. The same code also addresses provocation directed at spectators, another point Estudiantes is looking to invoke.

Estudiantes once again reaffirms the importance of upholding the principle that "RESPECT COMES FIRST."Estudiantes de La Plata

What could happen to Depay

CONMEBOL's Disciplinary Code for this competition provides for sanctions in this type of infraction ranging from a suspension of at least one match in the competition to penalties covering a specific period of time, depending on how serious the relevant tribunal determines the offense to be. It will now fall to the Disciplinary Unit to review the footage and decide whether to open a case against the Dutch forward.

The case arrives at a sensitive moment in the series: with the first leg finishing 1-1, everything remains up for grabs in the second leg, which will determine who advances to the semifinals. For now, Depay has not commented on the incident, and CONMEBOL has not issued any statement regarding the complaint filed by the La Plata club.