The controversy of the Avellaneda classic: a penalty for Racing that angered all of Independiente

El Rojo and the Academy drew in the hottest Avellaneda classic in recent times. 35 minutes had passed since the start of the first half Independiente beat Racing at home, with a goal from Martín Cauteruccio. Jonathan Gómez’s ball searches for Facundo Mura on the edge of the big area, from behind and with little cunning Nicolás Vallejo pushed him. Mura went down in the box and referee Yael Falcón Pérez didn’t hesitate to charge a penalty. But the question immediately arose: was the offense internal or external?

That there was a lack, there is no question. The question was whether Vallejo pushed him before or after he crossed the penalty area line. This is why there was a review at the VAR, by Dario Herrera. The main judge did not need to go to the monitor as Ezeiza informed him that the maximum penalty that Matías Rojas executed was well sanctioned and changed to 1-1.

In any case, the images from the different cameras offered by the television broadcast were not entirely clear and it could not be seen with certainty that the thrust was actually inside or, failing that, on the line. Instead, the flaw appeared to be more like a few inches on the outside.

Although there was a protest from Independiente, the most effusive denunciation came when the players of the Reds left the dressing rooms towards the pitch after half-time. There, they all went to Falcón Pérez to tell him it wasn’t a penalty. Sure, in the locker room they had watched the show on their phones.

It was late. Beyond the protest, nothing could be done. The referee explained to local officials, including Ivan Marcone and Cauteruccio, that although the drive had started outside the area, it ended up on the line and that was why the penalty had been called. “The foul is charged when you finish pushing it,” the judge repeated.

Marcone’s anger

Eventually there were arguments again. Marcone was harsh when referring to the topic: “A lot of anger. We wanted to win and give people victory. We moved on, but then everything else happened. The referee charged the penalty and said they reviewed it and it was confirmed, he wiped his hands. He could have gone to see her, taken a little more time. When there is the intention that the result must be one… I don’t know if it’s Herrera who was at the VAR, he’ll stay home in peace because he did what he needed.”

And he added: “We saw that there was something wrong and incorrect. I hope that someone takes charge and takes action on it. The only ones who should be happy are Herrera and those of the VAR, who have hurt us”.

The nomination of Yael Falcón Pérez for this classic was the subject of debate throughout the week. It is that the referee was an employee of the Municipality of Lanús, whose mayor (now retired) is Néstor Grindetti, new provisional president of Independiente.

From Racing they have raised the cry to the sky and raised their guard. Falcón Pérez had to resign from the position he held at the Municipal School for Football Referees. Suspect was installed from the blue and white side of Avellaneda.

Will he have arbitration conditioned by all this previous situation? The truth is that his refereeing in the draw in the derby influenced the final result.

I haven’t seen the penalty yet, but at half-time we had received the information that he was out,” explained Ricardo Zielinski in his press conference. For his part, Fernando Gago answered the question on this same topic: “I haven’t seen it, I haven’t seen it. To tell the truth, if I told you that I see a penalty from my position, I’d be lying.”

Once again, the lead role was taken by a referee. And so, the classic was ruined by one wrong decision.