The Libertadores is always full of surprises but this one is beyond anything imaginable. The situation with Marcelo Gallardo, River Plate’s manager, is an extremely tricky one, so we’ll review it step by step.
The Suspension
Gallardo was suspended for the second leg of Gremio-River because of taking more time than is allowed before coming out to play the second half of the first leg. When a manager is suspended, he can’t be on the touchline for the game. They must sit in a box in the stands. He can’t communicate with his assistant managers, and he can’t enter the locker room at half-time. Gallardo broke the last two rules, but the epicenter of the storm is because he broke the last one.
The Situation
Gallardo broke a written rule by entering the locker room at half-time to deliver a speech to River’s players. A speech that, according to some River players, had a profound impact. Cameras also caught Gallardo breaking the rules, yet instead of trying to camouflage himself, he openly defied the photographer catching the now infamous moment.
After the game was over, Gallardo basically confessed his infraction. He was quoted saying: “I took the liberty to go to the locker room at half-time and talk with the players because I considered they needed it and also I needed it. Maybe I broke a rule… I acknowledge it and I own it, it was what I needed, what I thought I had to do and I regret nothing.” This is where all the trouble began.
The Consequences
The following day, Gremio went to CONMEBOL to present a formal request for the game to be given to them (walkover) because of Gallardo’s infraction. This might seem like a bit too much, but the fact is that the rulebook fully supports Gremio’s claim.
To keep it short, when a manager is suspended, the same rules apply as if he were a player. Also, the article explaining the situations where a result can be changed after the game (because of incidents/breaking of the rules) states that if a major incident influenced the result of the game, then there’s reason for a walkover victory (3-0) by the claimant.
The Verdict
The final decision on this issue will be given by CONMEBOL on Saturday at 14:30 ET. Many expect River to be disqualified for Gallardo’s intrepid actions. However, one can never know with the disorganization of the CONMEBOL.
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