A regrettable epilogue occurred after Defensor Sporting’s 2-1 victory over River Plate, in a match valid for the eighth date of the Apertura tournament of the first division of Uruguayan soccer. Although during the game there were signs of hot weather, with fouls and incidents that raised the temperature, everything exploded after the final whistle.
It all started with a strong infringement by the footballer Facundo Almeida on Kevin Dawson, which led to reactions and general discomfort among the Violeta players. The visiting defender attacked the local goalkeeper, without the slightest intention of contesting the ball, in a play in which he had to be sent off by referee Javier Feres.
However, the game continued 11 against 11. And before the end, Octavio Rivero committed a foul and, with the game stopped, he kicked the ball to move it away and the restart was delayed, with the game 2 to 1 for the local and a visitor looking for the heroic. The reaction was immediate: River’s goalkeeper, Yonatan Irrazábal, who had already gone to get the ball, He decided to fight Rivero. And that brought everything else to a boil an instant later.
As soon as Feres blew the final whistle, the attacks began. After the greeting of some of the protagonists, the fist blows, the kicks, the pugilistic movements and the desperate attempts to separate them began. of the members of the technical bodies.
The first to braid were Sebastián Guerrero and Matías Alfonso, who started the domino effect by sharing punches. Ignacio Ithurralde, River’s technical director, went to separate them and ended up collapsed on the grass. When he got up he was able to take Guerrero off the field, who had been sent off once the match was over.
With the game stopped, everything was reactivated again near the entrance area to the locker room. Over there, A Defensor Sporting leader began to exchange fist blows with Christian Almeidain another unfortunate postcard for Uruguayan football.
The origin
The images cannot reveal what triggered the situation, but the first thing that is observed is that the footballer Sebastian Guerrero, from Defensor Sporting (who was a substitute) went to the locker room visibly upset. Then he hears something that makes him retrace his steps and get into a fighting position in front of the Paraguayan. Matias Alfonso , from River, who went straight to confront the rival. Then more players arrived and the distribution of blows, kicks and pushes was widespread.
When everything calmed down and the players were going to the locker room, some people appeared and left the playing field through a gate located at one of the headers and the incidents were reactivated. The captain of River Plate was seen there, Christian Almeidacovering his face, as if he had received a blow.
This altercation occurs in a context that is worrying in Uruguayan football due to the escalation of violence. A few weeks ago there had been a strike by the referees’ union, after attacks on assistants Julian Perez y Federico Piccardobeyond the fact that these events have nothing to do with what happened this Sunday on the playing field.
Now, both clubs were exposed to heavy sanctions from Disciplinary Commission of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF).