New rule in Argentine football: ‘disrespect for the game’ punished | OneFootball

The National Refereeing Directorate, headed by Federico Beligoy, announced a new measure after Julián Palacios’ “controversial” play in Unión’s defeat in La Plata. From this date on, referees must punish with a yellow card and an indirect free kick any player who stands with both feet on top of the ball, considering this action unsportsmanlike conduct.

The DNA’s technical decision comes in order to stop a maneuver that creates “disturbances and disruptions” in the course of matches. According to the official statement, the action not only carries a physical risk for the player involved, but also falls within what the rules define as a lack of respect for the game. This play had gained media attention some time ago with Valentín Barco in the Copa Libertadores, but the recent episode in La Plata sped up the regulation.

The instruction for referees is clear: they must immediately punish this specific conduct in all categories of Argentine football. The measure aims to prevent conflict situations and possible aggression on the field, since this kind of showboating is often interpreted by opponents as an unnecessary provocation. Starting this Friday, any player who repeats what Palacios or “Colo” Barco did will be booked without exception.

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