In recent days, Deportivo Madryn has been at the center of a storm after the AFA's Disciplinary Tribunal decided to award them a 3-0 victory in the first leg against Gimnasia de Jujuy, following the complaint by referee Lucas Comesaña, who refused to play the second half, citing threats. Walter Otta, who with 'El Gallo' will face the team from the South in the semi-finals, pointed to controversial refereeing decisions. While controversial refereeing has been a topic throughout the Primera Nacional championship, the decisions tend to gain even more notoriety and significance at this stage of the year when promotions to the Professional League are decided. The coach of Morón, Deportivo Madryn's next rival in the 'reduced', also pointed to controversial refereeing in the Primera Nacional. Before it was confirmed they would face each other in the 'reduced' semi-final, the Morón coach had already spoken out against Deportivo Madryn and the refereeing. And obviously, after they heard me say that, I had to explain to them that, in fact, I said it convinced in the sense that, if we were to go through the refereeing or what happened to us with Colón, it was not worth getting excited because it has been said for a long time that Gimnasia Mendoza and Madryn would play the final. It's not just blaming the refereeing, which has been bad or detrimental in some matches against us.” Primera Nacional 'Reducido': the semi-final pairings for the second promotion. The Primera Nacional 'Reducido' has already defined three of its semi-finalists for the second promotion to the Professional League. And I think if we hadn't had the refereeing decisions we had, we would be leaders, but by some difference even. That is already more for the directors and we hope we have a normal match.” Otta had already spoken out against Madryn and controversial refereeing. On October 19, the very day the aforementioned match between Gimnasia de Jujuy and Deportivo Madryn was suspended, Walter Otta had already referred to the refereeing decisions, not only mentioning those that had harmed Morón, but also those that had favored both Deportivo Madryn and Gimnasia Mendoza, who have already been promoted to Primera División. Walter Otta – 3-11-2025 What had Walter Otta said about the controversial refereeing in the Primera Nacional? What had Walter Otta said about the controversial refereeing in the Primera Nacional? Before it was confirmed that they would face each other in the 'reduced' semi-final, the Morón coach had already spoken out against Deportivo Madryn and the refereeing. I think that throughout the year, Madryn's situation has been controversial.” Walter Otta – 3-11-2025 Walter Otta: “Throughout the year, Madryn's situation has been controversial” Walter Otta: “Throughout the year, Madryn's situation has been controversial” The coach of Morón, Deportivo Madryn's next rival in the 'reduced', pointed to the controversial refereeing in the Primera Nacional. It was to this issue that the Morón coach, Walter Otta, referred, who in the preview of the semi-final clash against the team from the South, warned: “Throughout the year, Madryn's situation has been controversial.” After eliminating Atlanta in the quarter-finals, the 'Gallo's' coach was asked if he thinks about 'extra-football' matters when facing the Aurinegro, and without hesitation, Otta replied: “It's impossible not to think about it.” This Sunday, in the first turn, Deportivo Madryn beat Gimnasia de Jujuy 1-0 and advanced to the next round after the first leg was suspended and the AFA sanctioned the Jujuy team: now, led by Leandro Gracián, they will face Deportivo Morón (who surprised and got the better of Atlanta). The other semi-final will be between Estudiantes de Río IV (who beat Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta) and Estudiantes de Buenos Aires, who in the last turn of this Sunday won 1-0 against Tristán Suárez. The semi-finals will be home-and-away matches with a sporting advantage for the higher-ranked team: Deportivo Madryn and Estudiantes de Río IV will have that advantage and will host the decisive legs. Because it's not just this match. “We had just had that week a talk with the leaders, especially to motivate the team after what had been the defeat with Temperley. Also, if they hadn't sent off so many of our players and we hadn't made the mistakes we made, we would also be leaders. However, in the same response, he laid down the law for the directors: “But it is already a situation that does not concern me. In the same response, he also acknowledged: “We have to take responsibility for the 11 expulsions, because that is our responsibility. Everyone has been saying it for the last six months,” Walter Otta had assured in dialogue with Dos Gallos Locos. And he continued: “That is very frustrating, it makes you feel powerless. The play-offs were coming, important things were at stake.
