Argentine club Deportivo Riestra have been branded “disgraceful” and a “disgrace” after placing a influencer in the starting line-up for their top-flight game against leaders Velez Sarsfield on Monday (11), before replacing him in the first minute .
Ivan Buhajeruk, better known as Spreen and with more than 7 million subscribers on YouTube, has no professional football experience, but was selected as a striker by coach Cristian Fabbiani.
The 24-year-old was substituted after just 50 seconds during a break in play for a foul. He was replaced by center forward Gustavo Fernández.
The controversial lineup also initiated an investigation by the Argentine justice system. According to the Argentine website TN, from Grupo Clarín, the Specialized Gambling Prosecutor’s Office began proceedings to determine whether the influencer’s selection was intended to attract gamblers on an illegal platform.
The AFA (Argentine Football Association) also requested that the ethics court investigate the case. According to the entity, the investigation seeks to clarify possible “conduct that could harm the reputation and integrity of Argentine football, particularly when it involves illegal and immoral behavior or without ethical principles.”
President of the AFA, Claudio Tapia criticized the action of the Buenos Aires club. “When there are things you really don’t like, you have to correct them,” said Tapia in statements to the daily Olé. “I understand that the Ethics and Discipline Court is working on this fact. Riestra apologized, these are things that must be corrected, because they cannot happen.”
The modest club in the Argentine capital, known for its unconventional marketing strategies, gave Buhajeruk a professional contract and registered him with the AFA in February.
Match commentators on local broadcaster Tyc Sports were critical of Buhajeruk’s performance in the short time he was on the pitch.
“He doesn’t even know where to stand… it’s unbelievable,” said one commentator. “This is shameful, it’s a total disgrace.”
Fabbiani told local radio that he had spoken to Velez coach Gustavo Quinteros before the match to say that he did not want to disrespect anyone by choosing Buhajeruk in the team.
“He laughed and told me to leave it for half an hour. It’s something contractual that was signed a long time ago and the club depends a lot on advertising… It was probably a one-off thing,” he added.
Former Argentine national team player Juan Sebastian Veron, now president of Argentine club Estudiantes de la Plata, was not impressed with the publicity stunt.
“A total lack of respect for football and the players,” he wrote on Instagram.
“This message is more for the children on the other side. Today television showed you a shortcut that is not that. In order not to get into controversy, today was a lack of respect for football”, said the Vélez striker, Brian Romero, to ESPN.
Argentine newspaper La Nacion wrote on its website: “How to disrespect the history and future of Argentine football in one minute.”
Riestra have had an impressive debut campaign in the Primera Division and are in ninth place, level on points with giants Boca Juniors.
Monday’s match ended 1-1.
From Santo Tomé, in Santa Fe, Buhajeruk is 24 years old and began publishing content related to the game Minecraft at the beginning of the last decade. In 2023, he was voted best content creator at “The Game Awards” event.
In July of this year, he even sponsored the small football team Colón de Santa Fe, of which he is a fan.
