Vélez's coach, Sebastián Domínguez, has been provisionally suspended by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) following a tense confrontation with referee Andrés Merlos at the end of the match against Platense. The 1-0 loss, with a goal in stoppage time, led the coach to confront the referee with strong claims and protests over a card not shown to a Platense player. These actions resulted in his provisional suspension, and he now has 72 hours to present his defense.
Domínguez's anger was directed not only at Merlos but also at a member of Platense's coaching staff. Criticism was made of the rival team's playing style, which triggered a strong response from Sergio Gómez, his colleague: "We are two guys from the lower divisions, who were not well-known players, and everything we have achieved in these 14 years was due to our own merit."
The AFA officialized the sanction through a bulletin, confirming Domínguez's provisional suspension and his right to present a written defense within the regulatory period. The final decision will be left to the Disciplinary Tribunal, which will determine whether the sanction will be upheld or if the technical director will be allowed to return in the upcoming matches.
Vélez will face their next match without their coach on the bench, adding pressure to a team struggling to find stability in the tournament. With Domínguez out and amid the controversy, the Liniers team will need to focus on improving their performance, leaving behind refereeing controversies and off-field disputes.
As a consequence of this situation, Domínguez will miss coaching his team in the third round of the Apertura Tournament against Instituto de Córdoba. According to the referee's report, the coach made a threatening remark to Merlos during the discussion: "If I talk, I will set you on fire."
