Fury in Argentina as YouTuber starts professional game but fails to touch the ball

“What happened today was a lack of respect for football. It is a wrong message to society, to kids who try hard,” Velez Sarsfield forward Braian Romero said, after his team’s 1-1 draw against Deportivo Riestra on Monday evening.

Table-topping Velez Sarsfield were held to a draw in a game that sparked controversy when Riestra named a social media influencer known as ‘Spreen’ to their starting XI.

Spreen, whose real name is Ivan Buhajeruk, has no experience in professional soccer but was named a starter as part of a publicity stunt to publicise an energy drink company that sponsors the team. Despite starting, Spreen was substituted after just 50 seconds and did not touch the ball.

Argentinian World Cup star slams Spreen stunt

While Deportivo Riestra battled to a commendable 1-1 draw in Monday’s Primera División fixture, the decision to field an influencer in a professional game was met with sharp criticism from many in Argentina.

Spreen was registered with the team back in February but only began training with the team one week ahead of Monday’s debut. Deportivo Riestra is a 93-year-old team based in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires and some have suggested that this marketing ploy was an unnecessary distraction from the game.

Ex-pro Juan Sebastian Veron is currently president of fellow Primera División team Estudiantes de la Plata, having enjoyed an illustrious playing career in which he represented Argentina at three World Cups. He was unimpressed with Spreen’s brief, publicity-spinning appearances.

“A total lack of respect for football and footballers,” the 49-year-old wrote on Instagram.

Speaking after the game Riestra head coach Cristian Fabbiani sought to downplay the incident, saying that he had spoken to Velez coach Gustavo Quinteros before the game to explain what was going to happen. Speaking to local radio, Fabbiani joked: “[Quinteros] laughed and told me to leave him for half an hour.”