Deportivo Riestra Apologizes for The Spreen Controversy
The Argentine club Deportivo Riestra apologized this Tuesday for fielding the 'streamer' Spreen in an official first division match, explaining that it was a "marketing action" aimed at attracting new audiences.
"Yesterday, we had the opportunity to feature Iván Buhajeruk, one of the most important influencers in Latin America, in the match against Vélez," the club posted on social network X, referring to the inclusion of the 24-year-old, who has nearly 20 million followers across his social media platforms and is known as 'Spreen'.
"Unfortunately, this action generated many negative opinions. We want to offer our sincerest apologies to those who felt offended," added the statement in response to the controversy sparked in Argentina by Buhajeruk’s participation. He is not a footballer and was substituted out after just 59 seconds of play.
Deportivo Riestra, whose match against Vélez Sarsfield ended in a 1-1 draw, assured that their intention was not to disrespect Argentine football or their opponent, who was informed in advance about the 'influencer's' inclusion. The club explained that their goal was to attract new audiences by bridging different worlds and platforms to enhance the football product and the club itself, which made its first division debut this year and currently sits ninth in the Professional League.
The move drew strong criticism from Argentine football figures such as Juan Sebastián Verón, Marcos Acuña, and Braian Romero. Amid the scandal, the AFA’s Ethics Committee launched an investigation to determine if Spreen's inclusion compromised the integrity of Argentine football.
