Referee Nicolas Ramirez Out for Argentine Clausura Finale After Superclasico

Argentine soccer referee Nicolás Ramírez will not officiate any matches during the final round of the Torneo Clausura regular season, following a wave of controversy surrounding his performance in the recent Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate. The Argentine Professional Football League announced the referee assignments for the upcoming sixteenth round, omitting Ramírez from the roster.

During the high-profile encounter at La Bombonera, which ended in a 1-0 victory for Boca Juniors, Ramírez faced severe criticism from River Plate players and executives for several disputed decisions. Among the main complaints were unpunished fouls, a denied red card, and a penalty claim involving a shirt pull inside the penalty area. Despite the uproar from the club, the Professional Football League stated that his absence from the upcoming round is unrelated to his performance on the field.

According to the official announcement released by the league, Ramírez requested a leave of absence "due to a scheduled surgical intervention." He is not the only high-profile referee stepping aside for the final fixture; Yael Falcón Pérez also requested leave due to paternity leave, while other officials like Sebastián Zunino, Pablo Dóvalo, and Hernán Mastrángelo have been assigned to oversee the crucial matches that will determine the annual standings champion and playoff spots.

The controversy surrounding refereeing decisions highlights a broader credibility crisis in domestic football. Critics and fans have increasingly voiced frustration over officiating standards, VAR interventions, and the overall management of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), led by Claudio Tapia. Recent polling data indicates that a significant portion of supporters views the association's leadership as a primary issue facing the sport.

As the regular phase concludes, multiple teams continue to battle for playoff positioning, home-field advantage in subsequent rounds, and qualification for international club competitions. Matches featuring title contenders will be closely monitored, with heightened scrutiny on officiating crews as the tournament reaches its decisive stage.

The sixteen-round schedule features fixtures distributed across several days, including key encounters such as Boca Juniors hosting Defensa y Justicia under referee Sebastián Zunino, and Argentinos Juniors facing Huracán with Pablo Dóvalo in charge. With high stakes across the table, the league aims to navigate the concluding fixtures under intense public and media attention.