Boca's victory over Vélez in the round of 16 of the Copa Argentina may not have yet determined the qualifier. "Fortín" has begun to analyze a formal complaint regarding the presence of six foreign players in the squad of the team led by Rodolfo Arruabarrena during the match held at the Kempes stadium.
The players included were Álvaro Montero, Leandro Lozano, Sebastián Villa, Carlos Palacios, Enner Valencia, and Ángel Romero. Montero, Lozano, and Villa started as starters, while Valencia and Palacios came on in the second half. Romero was on the bench and did not play any minutes.
The official record of the Copa Argentina confirms that all six players were part of the call-up, although only five participated in the match.
What the regulations say about the foreign player quota
Vélez's complaint is based on a regulatory issue. Article 31 of the foreign player quota in the First Division regulations states that clubs can have up to six registered foreign players, but sets the number allowed to sign the match sheet at five.
The rule arises from an agreement between the AFA and the Argentine Footballers' Association, an organization that intervenes in the regulation of the foreign player quota.
From the Argentine Footballers' Association, they maintain that it is allowed for six foreigners to sign the match sheet, an interpretation that could be decisive in determining whether Vélez's protest is valid.
Vélez's statement on his social media
Vélez could request to be awarded the match
In light of this situation, the Liniers club is working on preparing a complaint to request that the result of the match be changed and that they be granted qualification to the quarter-finals of the Copa Argentina, where they would face Racing.
To support their submission, Vélez would also refer to Article 18 of the AFA Disciplinary Code, related to the so-called improper alignment.
The regulation contemplates situations in which a player participates in a match for which they are not eligible. In those cases, the relevant disciplinary bodies can intervene, and if a protest determines that the player was ineligible, the involved team may receive a sports sanction in addition to a fine.
