Boca secured a key victory against Aldosivi in Mar del Plata on the seventh matchday of the Torneo Clausura, in the midst of a turbulent 2025 and after a long streak of 12 matches without a win. However, the sporting aspect was not the only thing that captured attention on the Mar del Plata night.
Amid heavy rain, at the 28th minute of the first half, the official ESPN broadcast focused closely on Miguel Ángel Russo sitting on the substitutes' bench, in a relaxed posture, nodding slightly with his eyes closed, which gave the impression that he was falling asleep.
The scene, which lasted only a few seconds, quickly spread on social media after a post by AZZ journalist Adrián Sánchez, who shared the screenshot on his X account. From there, the image went viral and sparked a strong controversy.
In the fans' reactions, some mocked while others expressed genuine concern, recalling the health problems the coach has been dealing with. Some even criticized Juan Román Riquelme for exposing him in front of the squad under those conditions.
Another point of controversy was the role of the broadcast. Numerous users accused ESPN of deliberately seeking that shot to portray Russo negatively and, indirectly, the current management, with whom the channel has maintained public tensions for some time.
