Glamorous football photographer at centre of dress-code controversy in Paraguay

October 31, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Glamorous football photographer at centre of dress-code controversy in Paraguay

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Adriana Caballero became the centre of a controversial football dress-code dispute in Paraguay.
Sportivo Ameliano banned low-cut tops, exposed midriffs and certain leggings for female journalists.
Club president Héctor Melgarejo called the rules unauthorised and confirmed their withdrawal.

A glamorous football photographer has found herself at the centre of a controversy in Paraguay after a football club attempted to dictate what journalists and photographers could wear inside their stadium.

Adriana Caballero, 29, is a professional sports photographer who regularly covers matches in the Paraguayan Primera División. With more than 272,000 followers on Instagram, she has also attracted considerable attention for her glamorous appearance and distinctive matchday style.

But it was not one of her photographs that made headlines this time. Instead, it was a controversial dress code introduced by Sportivo Ameliano that left Caballero feeling singled out and sparked a wider debate about women working in football.

Who is Adriana Caballero?

Caballero is no stranger to attention on social media.

Under the Instagram handle @adrianacaballero97, the Paraguayan photographer regularly shares glamorous photographs alongside glimpses of her professional life behind the camera.

Her work takes her to football grounds across Paraguay, where she captures the action from the sidelines. However, her appearance and choice of clothing have also attracted attention beyond her photography.

Caballero believes that a photograph of her working at a football match, which subsequently circulated widely online, may have played a role in the controversy that followed.

She was therefore particularly concerned when Sportivo Ameliano introduced new clothing restrictions for accredited members of the press.

Sportivo Ameliano's controversial dress code

Ahead of their match against Olimpia, Sportivo Ameliano circulated a dress code asking journalists, photographers and other press personnel to follow a more formal sporting dress standard.

The club reportedly justified the guidelines as a way to maintain their institutional image and create a professional environment.

However, some of the restrictions attracted immediate attention.

The guidelines prohibited both men and women from wearing low-cut tops or clothing that exposed the navel. Female journalists and photographers were additionally instructed to wear leggings only in black or dark blue.

The announcement quickly generated criticism, particularly because of its potential impact on women working in sports journalism.

'I always want to wear comfortable clothes'

Caballero made clear that comfort is an important consideration when choosing her outfits for work.

Speaking about the controversy, she said:

I always want to wear the most comfortable clothes possible for my job. Sooner or later it probably had to come to this.

She also expressed concern that the new guidelines could create unnecessary difficulties for other women in the profession.

In a separate interview, she explained that reading the announcement had come as a shock, particularly because she believed the restrictions could negatively affect her colleagues.

However, Caballero also defended the principle that a woman's appearance should not determine how professionally she is judged.

My commitment is demonstrated through the photographs I deliver, my responsibility and the effort I put into every assignment.

A woman can dress simply, elegantly or according to her own style and still be just as professional. Appearance should not be confused with ability.

Sportivo Ameliano president calls dress code 'madness'

As criticism intensified on social media, Sportivo Ameliano President Héctor Melgarejo moved to distance the club's management from the controversial announcement.

Speaking to Paraguayan media, Melgarejo said the dress code had been published without the approval of the club's management.

He expressed regret over the situation and described the measure as "madness", insisting that journalists and photographers should be allowed to dress as they normally would when covering matches.

Melgarejo also promised that the club would clarify its position through an official statement.

Sportivo Ameliano subsequently confirmed that the dress code had not been authorised by the institution and did not represent their position.

The club also stressed that members of the press were part their its football family and deserved to feel comfortable and respected whilst carrying out their work.

Rather than imposing clothing restrictions, the club said their only requirements were valid media accreditation and courteous, respectful behaviour.

Adriana Caballero's appearance is not the measure of her professionalism

The controversy surrounding Caballero began with a discussion about clothing, but quickly became a wider debate about women working in football.

Her glamorous appearance and popularity on Instagram have helped make her a recognisable figure, but her response brought the focus back to something more important: her work as a professional photographer.

Caballero made it clear that women should not have to feel embarrassed, judged or restricted because of their personal style.

Sportivo Ameliano's eventual withdrawal of the dress code brought the immediate controversy to an end.

And whilst Caballero may continue to attract attention for her glamorous matchday looks, her central message remains clear: professional ability should be judged by the quality of the work, not the clothes a woman chooses to wear.