River Plate-Boca Juniors Superclasico witnesses seven red cards | OneFootball

The game between River Plate and Boca Juniors in the Argentine Primera Division on Sunday descended into chaos after six players were shown red cards.

League leaders River Plate emerged victorious in the Superclasico with the help of Miguel Borja’s penalty in injury time, which soon triggered a massive brawl between the players of the two sides.

Three players from each team and Boca head coach Jorge Almiron were given their marching orders.

Boca goalkeeper Sergio Romero, formerly of Manchester United, was at the heart of the skirmish as he confronted the River players straight after the penalty.

The Argentine shot-stopper complained about the antics of Agustine Palavecino, who was one of the recipients of the red card.

“Palavecino came to shout the goal to our faces,” Romero said (h/t ESPN). “I reacted well – I grabbed him from his waist and asked him why he was doing that.

“My teammates thought I was about to fight, and they all came. What Palavecino did is a terrible lack of respect.”

Romero also criticised the referee’s decision to award a penalty, claiming that it was not a foul by Agustin Sandez on Pablo Solari.

“We leave with a very bitter and sad feeling,” added Romero. “The penalty should not have been awarded. The referee didn’t even review it.

“The game got out of his hands. It’s difficult to understand the red cards – the referee told me that it was because they were throwing punches.”

Police were called into action to stop the brawl that lasted more than a quarter of an hour.

River skipper Enzo Perez also spoke about the scuffle, claiming it was unacceptable from both teams.

“I think that it is not right on either side because it is not the image that we have to give to the outside,” Perez said.

“I don’t agree with what happened at all – it’s unacceptable.”

The victory leaves River Plate nine points clear at the top of the league table, while Boca are in 13th position.