Dumfries and Acuña separated in heated Inter vs River Plate brawl: what happened? | OneFootball

Denzel Dumfries and Marcos Acuña had to be separated as a heated brawl erupted after the full-time whistle of Inter-River Plate last night.

The Nerazzurri secured a 2-0 win over River Plate on Wednesday, qualifying for the Club World Cup Round of 16 as ground winners and eliminating the Argentine side.

Tense end to Inter vs River Plate

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 25: Lautaro Martinez #10 of FC Internazionale Milano is substituted for Valentin Carboni #45 during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and CA River Plate at Lumen Field on June 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Tension erupted after the full-time whistle, with River reduced to ten men.

Videos that have gone viral on social media show Dumfries running away from Acuña while Inter and River players tried to calm the Argentine defender down.

Why Dumfries and Acuña had to be separated

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 25: Denzel Dumfries #2 of FC Internazionale Milano scuffles with Marcos Acuña #21 of CA River Plate during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and CA River Plate at Lumen Field on June 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

There were reports that Dumfries had been racially abused by his opponent, but according to Gazzetta, that was not the case.

The pink paper highlights that Dumfries and Acuña already fought during and after the 2022 World Cup between Argentina and the Netherlands, with the Inter defender sent off during the penalty shootout for trying to disturb his opponents.

Inter have qualified for the Club World Cup Round of 16, where they will face Brazilian side Fluminense.