Memphis Depay Investigated Over Gesture to Estudiantes Fans

CONMEBOL has opened an investigation into Memphis Depay after the Corinthians Forward made an obscene gesture towards home supporters during Thursday's Copa Libertadores quarter-final first leg at Estudiantes.

Alexis Castro had put Estudiantes ahead in the first half before Caius Cesar equalised for Corinthians in the 49th minute. As his team-mates ran to the corner to celebrate, Depay turned to the home end and raised his middle finger. The home fans responded with loud boos, and Depay went to the referee to complain that an object had been thrown at him. The match finished 1-1.

Estudiantes wasted no time. The club said it had "filed a complaint with the CONMEBOL disciplinary unit regarding the offensive gestures made by opposing player Memphis Depay, which were undeniably directed towards our stands."

Corinthians have pushed back, arguing a ban for the second leg is effectively impossible on procedural grounds: CONMEBOL has set 17 September as the deadline for any defence, which falls the day after the return fixture. Any suspension arising from the case would therefore only bite from the semi-final stage onwards, should Corinthians get there.

The timing complicates things for the 32-year-old. Depay signed for Corinthians in October 2024 and has managed just two goals for the club, his last official strike coming back in March. He has only recently returned to a regular starting role after a spell hampered by injury and by uncertainty over his soon-to-expire contract. Caius Cesar, the 22-year-old Brazilian winger who levelled the scoring, has fared rather better since arriving in March, with three goals to his name.

Depay won 112 caps for the Netherlands and played 53 times for Manchester United between 2015 and 2017.