Overview
- Boca Juniors drew 1-1 with Cruzeiro at La Bombonera on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, and players and staff angrily surrounded referee Jesús Valenzuela after the final whistle.
- Three key incidents drove the protests: a Cruzeiro goal that stood after VAR review, a disallowed Miguel Merentiel goal, and a late non-awarded penalty for a handball by Lucas Romero.
- CONMEBOL released VAR audio that says Romero’s arm was ‘in a natural position’ and that he tried to move it away before contact, a formal explanation that stops short of ending public dispute.
- A video that went viral shows Valenzuela gesturing to his assistants after the match, and high-profile figures including Leandro Paredes and former player Pablo Mouche publicly condemned the referee’s handling of the ending.
- Sportingly, the draw leaves Boca needing a win over Universidad Católica in the final group match to keep Libertadores qualification hopes alive, and no referee sanctions have been reported so far despite rising pressure for oversight.