Riquelme hits out at Vélez after complaint over Boca’s alleged rule breach | OneFootball

Juan Román Riquelme criticised Vélez after the club lodged a complaint over Boca Juniors’ alleged improper inclusion in the Copa Argentina last 16. He insisted Boca’s win was deserved.

“I did not see the statement, I know they posted something. Boca won deservedly on Wednesday, played a great match, were better than their opponent,” he said. He was speaking to ESPN.

The row escalated from Friday rumours that Boca had listed six foreign players on the official team sheet against Vélez, when regulations permit only five to sign. On Saturday Vélez filed a formal complaint to the AFA Disciplinary Tribunal, citing Article 31 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, modified in 2019, which allows clubs in Primera to register a maximum of six foreigners, with only five authorised to sign for official matches.

Vélez requested Boca’s disqualification from the Copa Argentina and for Vélez to progress to the quarter-finals. Riquelme countered: “Matches are won on the pitch. In the end I love football, you win by playing football.”

He also turned his fire on media coverage, highlighting a challenge on Leandro Paredes. “We were lucky the Vélez player did not fall on Paredes’ ankle, otherwise we would all be sad because he would be injured. For me it was a red.”

“Nothing was said. When it goes against Boca, nothing is said, we know the media works like that. Since Boca won deservedly, they have to talk about something else.”

Source: LaNumer12.com.ar

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”