Against the rules

Against the rules

Loustau appointment to direct this big match started in the worst way. According to AFA rules, it´s not possible to referee the same team two consecutive, and he had ruled Argentinos-Boca in the previous week. Yet, he was nominated.

Against the rules II

Outside the penalty areas the referee job wasn´t bad at all. He booked correctly, was near the ball and tried to make the game flow. But the problem was inside the areas: there were at least 3 or 4 clear penalties that he should have conceded in River Plate way. The most important: a clear push against Funes Mori when the game was 0-0; in the same action, Loustau also should have shown a 2nd yellow to Insaurralde. During the 2nd half, Pavone was tripped inside Boca area, but Loustau didn´t see it.

Against the rules III

Boca defenders felt completely free to do whatever they wanted during every corner kick or free kick River shot. It´s true that small frictions or grabs are considered as normal things in every football match, because this is a "contact sport". But, what happens when a player is hold so rudely that he´s felled and can´t fight for the ball? There were at least 2 penalties of this kind, that Loustau didn´t want to call... It´s impossible that he didn´t see them, unless he´s blind. He isn´t...

Also a terrible game

At the end of the match Loustau sent off both Clemente Rodriguez and Matias Almeyda after they staged a ridiculous skirmish. It was an appropriate ending to a very bad game, where even the winner´s goals weren´t made by their own merit (River GK and defense helped a lot in both).