The Tucumán team was questioned for the celebrations after qualifying for the final, a stage where they will face Talleres de Perico de Jujuy
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Tucumán Central took a decisive step toward Federal A by winning 2-1 away against Boroquímica de Salta and reaching the final of the Northern Region of the Torneo Regional Federal Amateur. However, the qualification was quickly overshadowed by an image that went viral on social media and unleashed a strong controversy.
The photo was taken inside the bus that was transporting the squad after the victory. In it, several players can be seen celebrating with alcoholic beverages and displaying two pistols, which caused outrage and forced the club to publicly clarify the situation.
Through a statement, the institution tried to tone down the scandal:"It was a moment of celebration in a private setting that was misinterpreted. We want to emphasize that the guns were toys and that there was no bad intention, much less any purpose of promoting violence", they stated.
El comunicado del club luego de la polémica
"We apologize for the misunderstanding. The squad is focused on Sunday's final", the statement concluded.
One of the protagonists also gave his version. Substitute goalkeeper Néstor Tonini explained in a conversation with La Gaceta:"They are toy guns, the kind that shoot plastic pellets. Something very big was made out of that".
He added:"We did not even realize it at that moment. We were celebrating, playing around, and we did not notice. We even had carnival foam and we were spraying each other".
Once the controversy was overcome, the Tucumán side had to focus on the decisive stage of the competition. It will face Talleres de Perico de Jujuy, which eliminated Atlético San Pedro. The series will begin in Villa Alem and will conclude a week later in Jujuy. The winner will be crowned champion of the Northern Region and will achieve the long-awaited promotion to Federal A.