A new act of violence took place in the world of football, involving two players from Argentino de Merlo in the Primera B. During the match against Argentinos de Quilmes, which ended in a 3-1 defeat, the players assaulted a linesman, thus tarnishing the day of the playoffs for the second promotion.
The controversy arose in the first half of the game when the referee sent off Benjamín Giménez. After the dismissal, a discussion broke out between the forward and assistant Matías Arévalo, raising the tension on the field. With one player less, Argentino de Merlo found itself exposed and struggled to overcome the deficit.
Despite their efforts, the disadvantaged team ended up being overwhelmed. At the end of the match, when it seemed that Argentinos de Quilmes would advance to the semifinals of the second promotion, players from Argentino de Merlo engaged in a confrontation with the referee and the assistant, leading to a physical assault against Arévalo. Amid a tumult, the situation spiraled out of control and the linesman was struck.
Javier Martínez, a standout player of the match, scored a goal amid the controversy. In the second half, Martínez extended the lead on the scoreboard, although Valentín Gargiulo later reduced the margin for Argentino de Merlo, and Facundo Cipresso sealed the result. Amid the confusion, Arévalo was heard stating: "I was punched," highlighting the severity of the situation.