The conflict over the consecration of Rosario Central ended up giving River an unexpected role: far from the good sporting results, the club became a trend on social media after its second vice president, Ignacio Villarroel, publicly questioned the AFA’s decision and targeted Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia. His phrase – “there was no vote” – ignited a controversy that crossed fans, media and leaders.
As Villarroel explained, River never formally endorsed the recognition of the title because it was not directly put to a vote. “I’m in the meeting, I know what happened: there was no vote,” he said, denying the version that the Executive Committee had given its approval to the champion. The leader’s position coincides with that of Estudiantes, which also reported that at that meeting “no vote was taken regarding the recognition of the 2025 League title.” The statement, published both by El Observador and by Santa Fe media, exposed an institutional crack that amplifies the discussion about the transparency of processes in the AFA.
Meanwhile, River is experiencing an irregular sporting present, but found in this episode an unexpected symbolic victory: its intervention shook the leadership climate and positioned it at the center of the national conversation. On Twitter, Villarroel’s phrases and fragments of the notes where he denied Tapia immediately went viral, turning the club into a trend and generating memes, analysis and political readings about power within Argentine football.
The contrast is evident: River does not manage to impose itself on the field, but it does in the digital field, where its complaint found echo among its own and foreign fans. Although his sporting present did not change, he did once again settle into the center of the hottest debate of the year.
