Carrascal greets Antonella as James snub triggers Colombia row | OneFootball

Colombia travel to the World Cup in high spirits, yet a farewell event in Bogotá sparked a row when James Rodríguez ignored the president’s daughter, while Flamengo’s Jorge Carrascal stopped to greet her.

According to Coluna Do Fla, 17-year-old Antonella Petro asked James for a photo, but he refused and declined her handshake during Thursday’s ceremony before the squad left the capital.

Players were expected to greet Antonella and president Gustavo Petro, who presented the team with the national flag and traditional hats.

James did shake the president’s hand, but Carrascal greeted both father and daughter.

Political figures condemned James’s behaviour. Bogotá councillor Heidy Sánchez said Antonella is a football-loving teenager and that he did not need to act that way. She labelled him a crybaby and a coward, adding that as a father he would not want his daughter treated so poorly.

Carrascal is James’s back-up. Colombia play on 17, 23 and 27 June against Uzbekistan, Congo and Portugal, and are among the favourites to progress from Group K.

Source: Coluna Do Fla