Referee Appointment Sparks Tension Between River Plate and Football Association

River Plate is expressing surprise and tension following the appointment of Darío Herrera as the referee for their upcoming match against Vélez. This decision has reignited controversy, as Herrera has not officiated a River game since a Superclásico on April 19, where a crucial penalty was not called in River's favor.

The timing of the appointment, revealed as River's squad was en route to Bogotá for a Copa Sudamericana match, has amplified the club's discontent. This comes just 48 hours after a banner targeting River's president, Stefano Di Carlo, appeared at Barracas Central's stadium, the home ground of AFA president Claudio Tapia.

River's leadership has publicly criticized the refereeing in the Clausura Tournament, with President Di Carlo stating that River has been "perjudiced" and that "everyone sees the same thing." He alluded to a decade-long issue of "manhandling" and urged fans to pay attention to the problems. The appearance of the banner and the subsequent referee appointment are seen by River as a response to these criticisms, further escalating the conflict between the club and the AFA.