‘Lack of respect’: Argentina club start social media influencer in top-flight match | Soccer

Argentine soccer club Deportivo Riestra has called a social media influencer in the starting lineup for Monday's top-flight match against leaders Velez Sarsfield, calling it a “disrespect for football.” “There is,” he was criticized.

Ivan Bukhajeruk, better known as 'Spleen' and with over 8 million subscribers on YouTube and over 5 million followers on Instagram, has no experience in professional football, but was recruited by coach Cristian Fabbiani to join him. He was appointed as a striker. The 24-year-old was sent off after just 50 seconds without touching the ball during the first stoppage in play.

The Buenos Aires club, known for its unconventional marketing strategies, gave Buhajeruk a professional contract in February and registered him with the Argentine FA. He started training with the team last Tuesday.

Deportivo Riestra executives defended the move as an imposition on their main sponsor, an energy drink company, but some current and former players opposed the move.

Velez striker Brian Romero, who scored the first goal with a penalty in the 43rd minute, said: “What happened today is a lack of respect for football. It sends the wrong message to society and to children who work hard.'' “Soccer is not like that. You try, fail, and try again.”

Former Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron, currently president of Argentine club Estudiantes de la Plata, was not impressed by the publicity stunt. “Total lack of respect for football and football players,” he wrote on Instagram.

Deportivo Riestra captain Milton Celis said the idea for Buhajeruk to be on the pitch came from Victor Stinfare, owner of both the club and the sponsoring energy drink company.

When asked about Buhajeruk's skills, Celis replied, “He's number one as a streamer.”

Fabbiani told a local radio station that he spoke to Velez coach Gustavo Quinteros before the game and told him that he did not want to disrespect anyone in the squad by mentioning Buhajeruk's name.

“He laughed and asked me to leave him alone for 30 minutes,” Fabbiani said. “This was a contractual thing that was done a long time ago and the club relies heavily on publicity… It was probably a one-off thing.”

The match ended 1-1, with Nicolás Caro Torres scoring the equalizer for Deportivo Riestra in the 63rd minute.

Velez Sarsfield leads the Primera División with 43 points, while Deportivo Riestra are in ninth place with 31 points in their first season in the Argentine top flight.