Vélez asks AFA to overturn Boca match over six foreign players on squad sheet

Vélez Sarsfield has taken its elimination from the Copa Argentina to the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, asking the federation to overturn its match against Boca Juniors and award Vélez a place in the quarterfinals.

The dispute centers on Boca’s official squad sheet for the September 2 round-of-16 match. Vélez says it included six foreign players, while current regulations set a maximum of five. The players listed were Álvaro Montero of Colombia, Leandro Lozano of Uruguay, Carlos Palacios of Chile, Sebastián Villa of Colombia, Enner Valencia of Ecuador and Ángel Romero of Paraguay.

Miguel Merentiel, from Uruguay, and Chilean Williams Alarcón were not included in Vélez’s calculation because they hold Argentine nationality. Montero, Lozano and Villa started the match. Boca coach Rodolfo “Vasco” Arruabarrena later made four substitutions, including Valencia for Merentiel and Palacios for Paredes. Five of the six foreign players ultimately appeared on the field.

In a statement shared on X, Vélez said the issue came directly from the official match sheet recorded in the AFA’s COMET system. “It is not a matter of interpretation or an argument about refereeing. It concerns compliance with a rule in force and official documentation that proves it was breached,” the club said. Vélez asked the federation to declare Boca’s lineup ineligible and suspend Boca’s qualification until a final decision. The case is developing.

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It is not a matter of interpretation or an argument about refereeing. It concerns compliance with a rule in force and official documentation that proves it was breached.