River Plate Cancels Pre-Superclásico Press Conference

Superclásico Press Conference Canceled After River Plate Pulls Out

The joint media event, scheduled for Friday ahead of Sunday’s 3:00 p.m. local time (18:00 UTC) kickoff at La Bombonera, was called off after club executives confirmed no representative would attend. The fixture falls on the penultimate round of the Torneo Clausura. Boca Juniors intended to send captain Leandro Paredes and manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena to the podium. Instead, the Liga Profesional de Fútbol (LPF) issued a statement condemning the absence and announcing that River Plate faces a financial penalty, according to reporting by TN. Gonzalo Montiel and Leandro Paredes had given the previous press conference. This is not the first time River has chosen not to attend the conference, as similar absences occurred during the tenures of Martín Demichelis and Marcelo Gallardo.

League Officials and Boca Juniors Condemn the Boycott

League organizers expressed frustration over the late withdrawal, stating that the weekly conferences aim to “de-dramatize” high-stakes fixtures, generate international media content, and fulfill commercial agreements that benefit all member clubs. The LPF statement criticized River Plate for failing to adhere to the league’s guiding motto of “rivals, not enemies.” According to reporting by TyC Sports, executives within Boca Juniors viewed the absence as a direct “lack of respect” toward the event and their attending representatives. The LPF noted that it had maintained permanent contact with both clubs for 15 days to guarantee the normal development of the activity.

Di Carlo Points to AFA Leadership Over Refereeing Transparency

The decision to skip the media availability followed a tense week of political friction between Núñez and Viamonte. River Plate president Stefano Di Carlo addressed mounting concerns over officiating during a brief exchange with reporters outside the Estadio Monumental. Di Carlo stated that while fans worry about refereeing decisions, accountability rests with the leadership of the governing body. “The responsibility in relation to that theme and the transparency that the match and competition in general must have is placed right there, at the top,” Di Carlo said, reiterating that the club has operated under a “high guard” posture for more than a decade. He also noted that he previously served as club secretary and vice president.

Otamendi Pointers and Institutional Escalation

The tension coincided with a broader legislative dispute inside Argentine football. During a recent LPF Executive Committee meeting in Puerto Madero, River Plate stood as the only eligible club to vote against the proposed tournament format changes for 2027, dismissing the overhaul as a superficial cosmetic adjustment. Di Carlo stated that the club would not support the project because it represents a mere cosmetic change, adding that along with Estudiantes they presented a document for a more gradual advance toward a more normal format, and that the fight has only just begun. Following the league’s public reprimand, River Plate defender Nicolás Otamendi posted an Instagram story highlighting the club’s “Live and Play with Greatness” slogan painted near the Monumental training pitch, as noted by Olé. The 38-year-old central defender, who is an outspoken critic of refereeing this semester, shared the photo shortly after the LPF’s official statement. The social media post drew widespread attention given the timing of the ongoing disputes regarding referees and tournament structures.

Standings Stakes at La Bombonera

Beyond the political backdrop, Sunday’s clash carries significant weight for the domestic table. Boca Juniors has already secured qualification for the knockout stages and is fighting to finish top of the annual aggregate table to secure a Copa Libertadores berth. River Plate enters the fixture looking to solidify its position for both the domestic playoffs and the annual table qualification for the Copa Sudamericana.

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