The debut of a ‘streamer’ in an official match causes an earthquake in Argentine football

Was in the ranks of Deportivo Riestra, a recently promoted to the First Divisionin their confrontation with the historic Vélez Sarsfield, which is fighting for the top positions in the classification. It lasted just a minute, but the consequences could be important.

Iván Raúl Buhajeruk, better known as ‘Spreen’is a content creator born in Santo Tomé, Santa Fe, who has more than 5.4 million followers on instagrammore than 7 million subscribers in YouTube and another 9 million on Twitch.

This Monday ‘Spreen’, who had always confessed himself a fan of the beautiful game, made his debut as a professional footballer in the draw between Deportivo Riestra and Vélez Sarsfield (1-1). With the number 47, he left among the eleven chosen by Christian ‘Ogro’ Fabbiani to receive those from the Liniers neighborhood of Buenos Aires at the Guillermo Laza Stadium, in a duel corresponding to matchday 22 of the league.

The young ‘influencer’ who is only 24 years old and who He had obtained his professional player’s card less than three months ago. and was registered by Deportivo Riestra in the last transfer window. However, although he was on the club’s roster, his debut was a surprise, although recently a figurine from the traditional Panini album in which the ‘influencer’ appeared as a forward had already gone viral.

His first, and who knows if only, experience in the highest category of professional football He barely lasted 59 seconds on the pitch before being substituted by Gustavo Fernández. In that few minutes he had not even touched the ball, but he left the grass happily, applauding his fans.

The advertising gesture, since this bet by Deportivo Riestra is not conceived in any other way, has generated great controversy when comparing how easy it was for this young man to reach the highest category of Argentine professional football, while millions of boys in the divisions training courses fall by the wayside despite their efforts.

The initiative, which has caused a logical stir in the media and in Argentine football, was supported by the presence in the box of the well-known singer Luck Ra, a friend of ‘Spreen’.

Deportivo Riestra’s marketing

It is not the first time that Deportivo Riestra has attracted the spotlight for news that is not strictly sports, since last May, on the occasion of the dispute of the round of 32 of the Argentine Cup against Newell’s Old Boys had debuted Mateo Apolonio, the youngest player in the history of Argentine soccer at 14 years and 29 days.

The fact that the young player, who beat the previous record of Hugo Aicardi, Racing’s goalkeeper in the 1975 strike, did not return to play for Deportivo Riestra after that match confirms that the club was mainly seeking media attention.

The debut of ‘Spreen’, despite being fleeting, has generated indignation between footballers and coacheseven generated suspicions about possible bets and has already had a first official consequence, since at the request of the General Directorate of AFA, the Ethics Court will investigate his club.

The Court has opened a file for warning «conduct likely to harm the reputation and integrity of Argentine football particularly when it involves illegal, immoral, or lacking ethical principles.

Official statement from AFA

«The presentation made by the General Directorate of AFA by virtue of the registration, qualification and participation of Mr. Iván Raúl Buhajeruk in the first team of the Riestra Sports Club.

CONSIDERING. That it is the power of the Ethics Court to carry out the corresponding investigations in all those behaviors that may harm the reputation and integrity of Argentine football, particularly when it involves illegal, immoral, or lacking ethical principles, that corresponds to what is stipulated in the Art. 2 of the Code of Ethics of the Argentine Football Association.

That “prima facie” the inclusion of the aforementioned to the first team could fall within one or more of the actions of the applicable Code of Ethics and considering the presentation made and the preliminary investigations carried out.

RESOLVED: Open the file and request the intervention of the investigative body of this Court for the corresponding purposes..