Buenos Aires, April 1 (NA) -- The injury to referee Facundo Tello forced an urgent reconfiguration of refereeing in Argentine football and put the focus on Bruno Amiconi, an indirect protagonist in the lead-up to the Avellaneda classic. Tello suffered a knee problem while officiating the World Cup playoff between Jamaica and Congo and had to leave the field in tears during the second extra time, according to the Argentine News Agency. The image raised alarms not only for his possible absence in the 2026 World Cup but also for the immediate impact on the local front. Faced with this scenario, the Professional League modified the appointments: Nicolás Lamolina will replace Tello in Aldosivi vs. Estudiantes (RC), while Amiconi will take on the role of fourth referee in Independiente vs. Racing, instead of Lamolina himself. In this way, referee Amiconi will be involved in one of the most sensitive matches of the round, albeit as a fourth referee off the field. Amiconi's presence has not gone unnoticed, as days ago he was at the center of a controversy in the classic between Los Andes and Temperley, where he awarded a very disputed penalty for a foul that would have been outside the area. Without VAR in the category, the decision led to strong protests from the visiting team, which felt a new refereeing disadvantage, even though they ultimately won the duel against "Milrayitas". Although the penalty kick was missed and the result did not change, the episode left questions about his judgment in decisive plays.
