Six players were shown red cards as late drama in the Superclasico between River Plate and Boca Juniors ended in an on-field brawl involving stars from both teams.
League leaders River were put to the test by their great Argentinian rivals, with the game locked at 0-0 going into second-half stoppage time. However, tempers flared after River were given a penalty, which was converted by Miguel Borja.
Once the dust settled, six players were dismissed - three from each team, including two of River's substitutes. Boca boss Jorge Almiron was also given his marching orders, with River finally celebrating a 1-0 victory after 15 minutes of added time in a fixture which has had plenty of disciplinary drama in the past.
After Borja sent Sergio Romero the wrong way from the spot, Boca's former Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero could be seen sprinting towards the opposition players. More than 20 players were involved in the ensuing scuffle, with officials trying in vain to get themselves between the players.
As Borja continued to celebrate what would prove to be the winner, security staff also attempted to break up the players. While River boss Martin Demichelis spoke to some of his players, others continued to face off with their opponents.
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Referee Dario Herrera had already doled out nine yellow cards during the game, but the brawl prompted further action. River's Agustin Lamela was dismissed, along with unused subs Elias Gomez and Ezequiel Centurion, while Boca trio Nicolas Valentini, Miguel Serrano and Ezequial Fernandez joined manager Almiron in being dismissed.
Speaking to the media after the game, Romero voiced his doubts about the penalty call. "The penalty play is very doubtful. I ask the referee if it was a penalty," the veteran said, per TyC Sports.
"He tells me that it was clear. I told him that I had the VAR to consult and at no time did he consult it. Seeing the play, it is not a... penalty. It is a normal play in a game where there is friction and it should never have been charged."
The goalkeeper also pointed to River's Agustin Palavecino celebrating in the face of Boca's Nicolas Figal. Romero claimed that he and his team-mates saw a side of River which wasn't present under Demichelis' predecessor Marcelo Gallardo.
"Palavecino, instead of going with his teammates, stays ahead of two of my defenders to yell... in his face," Romero said. "I ran out to yell at him: 'What are you doing?' My team-mates thought I was going to fight and they came behind me and then those of River.
"In previous years they had achieved something that was very important, which was that they respect you for everything, not only because you have a good team or win a title, but because you have behaviour inside and off the field of play. It was missed today."
