Passarella's striking River anniversary video: sky blue jumper, fernet | OneFootball

Former River Plate president Daniel Passarella posted a video on social media this Monday to mark the club’s 125th anniversary, Argentina’s national holiday, and his own birthday.

However, one detail about his outfit sparked controversy among fans after the Millonario’s 3-2 loss to Belgrano of Córdoba in the Apertura Tournament final.

“May 25 is a very special day for me. Not only because of the Revolution, but also because of River Plate’s anniversary and my 73rd birthday. Thank you to everyone who believed in me and stood by me. Stay tuned, because before long you’re going to understand many things,” Passarella said.

But users’ attention immediately shifted to his clothing and the setting. Passarella reappeared wearing a light blue sweater, a color many River fans considered ill-timed just one day after the defeat against the Córdoba side, the same club that sealed River’s historic relegation to the second division in 2011. The former player and national team captain was the club’s president at the time.

While some users on social media interpreted Passarella’s outfit choice as strictly tied to the national holiday celebration—echoing the colors of Argentina’s cockade—it was not enough to calm supporters, who also noticed the presence of a bottle of fernet in the background of the video, another classic Córdoba reference.

It is worth remembering that the history involving River, Belgrano and Passarella goes back a long way. Suffice it to say that the Kaiser was River’s president when the team lost the relegation playoff against the Pirata in June 2011 and was relegated (to what was then the B Nacional) for the first time in its history.

The former Argentina defender bore almost all the blame for that major River disappointment. First, because of the team’s poor campaigns over three years. And second, because of a dispute with then-AFA president Julio Grondona, which many figures close to football considered crucial in the campaign that sank the Núñez club.

In fact, Passarella took a very long time to return to the Monumental because of the rejection his figure provoked. His presence at the stadium in February 2023 drew a lot of attention, when River honored the world champions of 1978, 1986 and 2022. The former executive joined at the last minute and kept a very low profile alongside Ubaldo Fillol, Norberto Alonso, Cinthia Luque (daughter of Leopoldo Jacinto), Oscar Ruggeri, Héctor Enrique, Franco Armani and members of Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff, Pablo Aimar and Ratón Ayala.

At the time, amid some whistles, the vast majority of the Monumental chose indifference when Passarella’s presence was announced.

At the time, the move sparked some controversy, although the club had its explanation. “Personal opinion is set aside; we always like to say that River is family, and if River is family, then this is part of it too. The entire River family is together; we believe we are different because anyone who lives the club knows it is different. With mistakes, virtues, we may think differently, but we are all headed in the same direction,” Santiago Poblet Videla, River’s head of public relations at the time, said then.

Passarella also spoke during those days. “I quickly accepted the invitation. I never hesitated about returning to the Monumental. I’ll be there with my family and my friends who also want to go. I feel like being alongside the players from ’78, and the tribute the club is giving us seems wonderful,” he said on the program Líbero (TyC Sports). He served as club president between 2009 and 2013, a period marked by the only relegation in the club’s history.

In recent times, Passarella has been much more active on social media, although he has rarely spoken about current events at River.

Belgrano crowned champions

Belgrano were crowned champions of the 2026 Apertura tournament after defeating River 3-2 in a historic final at the Mario Alberto Kempes. Ricardo Zielinski’s team secured the first top-flight league title for the Córdoba club and once again struck a blow against the Millonario in a decisive clash.

The final had everything from the start. Belgrano began better and tested Santiago Beltrán several times, with the River goalkeeper standing out in the opening minutes thanks to saves against Lucas Passerini and Emiliano Rigoni. However, Eduardo Coudet’s team struck first in the 17th minute: Marcos Acuña played it wide to Tomás Galván, who got past Emiliano Rigoni and set up Facundo Colidio for the 1-0.

The Pirata reacted quickly and found the equalizer in the 26th minute. Lucas Zelarayán delivered a precise corner and Leonardo Morales rose highest in the box to head home the 1-1, his first goal since joining the club this year.

After an intense and evenly matched first half, River went back in front in the second half. In the 60th minute, Colidio drove through the middle, drew defenders and passed to Galván, who controlled it and finished across goal to make it 2-1 for Coudet’s side.

It seemed like the Millonario’s best moment. River were controlling the match, dominating possession, and Belgrano had no answers. But the game changed completely in the closing stretch.

In the 85th minute of the second half, the VAR called Yael Falcón Pérez over for a handball by Lautaro Rivero inside the area after a shot by Uvita Fernández. The referee reviewed the play and awarded a penalty to Belgrano. Uvita himself, who had come on minutes earlier, took the spot kick and fired it into the top corner to make it 2-2.

And just three minutes later came the decisive blow. A cross from Franco Vázquez, after battling for a loose ball on the ground, traveled across the entire River box and once again Uvita Fernández appeared at the far post to tap in the 3-2 and unleash wild celebrations among the Córdoba fans at the Kempes.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.