Overview

• River beat Racing 1-0 in the Copa Argentina quarterfinal in Rosario, and after the final whistle Balboa spat in Acuña’s face, igniting a melee on the pitch.
• Referee Hernán Mastrángelo did not send Balboa off but recorded the incident in his official report, triggering review by the Disciplinary Tribunal.
• Under AFA regulations, spitting carries a minimum three-match ban, with a three-game sanction served in the Copa Argentina and any longer penalty carrying into league play.
• Video captured by TyC Sports documented the incident after the live broadcast missed it, supplying key evidence for disciplinary evaluation.
• Balboa briefly shut his social accounts before posting a public apology on Instagram, acknowledging the act and pledging it will not happen again.