Controversial VAR call mars River vs. Boca Superclásico

The Superclásico between River Plate and Boca Juniors lived up to its reputation for intensity, but unfortunately, the spectacle was marred by controversy rather than brilliance. The poor state of the field contributed to a more combative, less fluid game, and the refereeing decisions, particularly in the dying moments, have ignited a firestorm of debate.

The pivotal moment, which will undoubtedly be dissected all week, occurred in stoppage time. A late challenge on Lucas Martínez Quarta inside the box, which many at the stadium and watching on television believed should have resulted in a penalty for River Plate, was waved away by the referee. This decision, compounded by a yellow card shown to Gonzalo Montiel, left River players incensed and surrounded the officials at the final whistle.

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It's 50 and 50... It's an unnecessary push for the moment of the game. If the referee had called a penalty, it would have been difficult for the VAR to intervene. Now... there is also a clear exaggeration by the River player. Herrera also took into account the distance taken by Lautaro Blanco. Herrera should have seen that the force applied by Blanco does not correspond 100% with Martínez Quarta's fall. But it is neither a legal charge nor a terrible push using the arms with force.

Adding fuel to the fire, the crowd directed their anger towards Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, the president of the AFA, chanting insults. The sentiment among the home fans was clear: they felt robbed of a chance to equalize and were vocal about their perceived injustices.

This match, like many Superclásicos, highlights the intense scrutiny and passion surrounding Argentine football. While the result favored Boca Juniors, securing their second consecutive victory over their rivals, the lingering questions about officiating and the VAR's application will dominate discussions, overshadowing the actual football played.

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I'm surprised at you, you're going to the World Cup.