Scandal in the Argentine Cup: the match between Gimnasia and Barracas Central ended in a pitched battle

Scandal in the Argentine Cup: the match between Gimnasia and Barracas Central ended in a pitched battle

The match between Barracas Central and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata at the Estadio Ciudad de Lanús for the round of 16 of the Argentine Cup ended in embarrassment after a pitched battle between both teams at the end of the match. El Lobo won 1-0, thanks to a goal by Benjamín Domínguez nine minutes into the second half, and qualified for the quarterfinals of the federal competition.

However, the scandal was finally unleashed by a fight between Jhonatan Candia of Barracas Central, the team of AFA president Claudio Tapia, and Yonathan Cabral of Gimnasia, which led to a brawl with flying kicks and punches.

The incidents between the Gimnasia and Barracas Central players

It all started when referee Dario Herrera, who had sent off Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata’s Juan Cortazzo at the last minute, blew the final whistle. At that moment, there was an argument between Leonardo Morales from Lobo and Jhonatan Candia from Guapo. Two more players from La Plata, Yonathan Cabral and Gustavo Canto, joined them.

However, it was the clashes between Cabral and Candia that ended up generating a pitched battle between the two entire teams and their respective assistants. To such an extent that, as can be seen in the images, there were flying kicks and running in various areas of the field. The coaches tried to stop the violent actions of their players, but when everything seemed to calm down, the fights reappeared.

The discussion started between Leonardo Morales from Lobo and Jhonatan Candia from Guapo. They were joined by two more players from La Plata, Yonathan Cabral and Gustavo Canto.

According to TYC Sports, following the brawl, the refereeing team would have informed Gustavo Canto and Yonathan Cabral on the side of Gimnasia and Jhonatan Candia on the side of Barracas Central. It is worth remembering that the sanctions apply only to the Argentine Cup, unless the Disciplinary Court decides on a greater penalty. For this, we will have to wait for the report from the referees, after analyzing the images of the incidents.

The situation was out of control because there came a time when several players were involved in addition to those mentioned. Some substitutes joined in and also participated in the brawl. The kicks and punches were repeated scenes in an embarrassing image. Immediately afterward, Cabral was seen again overwhelmed and running around.

The players of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Barracas Central exchanged blows and the duel for the Argentine Cup ended in scandal

Added to all this was a more serious incident when the Barracas Central fans entered the field because the stadium gates were closed. Amidst the bullets and with not many police officers, the Guapo fans had demanded to be allowed to leave the stadium, but fifteen minutes before the end of the match they had been notified that the Gimnasia fans were going to leave first.

Tensions mounted for several minutes among the Barracas fans, who after speaking with the police decided to back off and returned to the stands. Immediately after, once the doors opened, the fans from the Buenos Aires team left the premises.

Tension with the Barracas fans who came onto the pitch after the defeat against Gimnasia

The incidents ended abruptly because it was a match that did not have too many frictions. The only goal was scored by Benjamín Domínguez, the 20-year-old who has just been sold to Bologna in Italy’s Serie A. With tears in his eyes, the youngster said goodbye to the Triperos fans who came to La Fortaleza.

“Last night when I went to sleep I was dreaming of this, of being able to score a goal and say goodbye to the people. I am leaving peacefully with the affection of the people who I know love me the most. The little ones who see me and go crazy, I will carry that in my heart forever,” said the striker.

The incidents between the Gimnasia and Barracas Central players

Gimnasia will play in the quarter-finals against the winner of Boca Juniors-Talleres de Córdoba, which has not yet been scheduled for a date or stadium.

In the Professional League, both teams will play their matches on Monday for the 12th round. Barracas will host Vélez, one of the teams fighting for the top spot. The match will start at 4:00 p.m. While Gimnasia will visit Belgrano, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Gimnasia coach Marcelo Méndez intervened to prevent the situation from escalating

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