Three players investigated by prosecutors after brawl in Argentine derby
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[May 09, 2023]
By Janina Nuno Rios
(Reuters) -River Plate's Agustin Palavecino and Boca Juniors' Marcos
Rojo and Luis Vazquez are under investigation by Buenos Aires
prosecutors, Argentine media reported, following a fiery brawl that
led to seven red cards in River's 1-0 win in the Argentine derby on
Sunday.
As the 'Superclasico' between Argentina's two most popular teams was
heading for a goalless draw, the referee awarded a stoppage-time
penalty to River that Miguel Angel Borja converted to hand the
league leaders victory, leaving defending champions Boca 13th in the
table.
Palavecino then celebrated the goal in front of the Boca players,
triggering a brawl that stopped the match for 16 minutes, with the
stadium police having to intervene, resulting in three players being
sent off from each side, as well as Boca coach Jorge Almiron.
The Buenos Aires Prosecutor's Office for Mass Events filed charges
against Palavecino and Vazquez for inciting disorder, and Rojo for
entering the pitch without authorisation, as the former Manchester
United defender was not involved in the match due to injury.
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"Marcos went to help the team because he is the captain and he went
to collaborate, he didn't go to harm anyone," Boca Juniors president
Jorge Amor told Reuters.
"These are the consequences of the refereeing for which we feel
harmed. I am not in favour of any act of violence. Nobody was
looking for aggression, it all started after the shout (of
Palavecino after the goal).
"A lot of people entered the pitch and had nothing to do there. I
saw a big crowd and only saw Luis (Vazquez) separating people."
River Plate president Jorge Brito said he did not like the way the
match ended despite their victory, and that both teams made mistakes
that triggered the brawl.
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![](../images/050923PIX/sports29.jpg)
Soccer Football - Primera Division -
River Plate v Boca Juniors - Estadio El Monumental, Buenos Aires,
Argentina - May 7, 2023 General view of lights inside the stadium
REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
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"It happens to all of us, it happens to me as a
head, that the fan in us comes out and you do something that can
annoy the other team," Brito told local broadcaster Tyc Sports.
"I think Boca's reaction was exaggerated but that's fine. For these
things to happen there had to be mistakes on both sides and we have
to work so that these things don't happen again.
"Pala is an intelligent player, he's a good person and he's going to
learn from this."
Palavecino apologised on Monday, saying he regretted his actions and
admitted he could not control himself.
"It was a mistake and it's not the image we want to give at River.
There is a path to go down and we have to follow it," the midfielder
told Tyc Sports.
Under Argentine law, Rojo could be sanctioned with one to five days
of community service or a fine of 200 to 2000 Argentine pesos ($0.87
to $8.79).
Palavecino and Vazquez could face fines of 10,000 to 50,000
Argentine pesos or five to 30 days' detention.
($1 = 227.6000 Argentine pesos)
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico CityEditing by Toby Davis)
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