Argentina's football scene was shaken recently when YouTuber Ivan Buhajeruk, known as Spreen, took the field as a striker for Deportivo Riestra during their match against the well-established club, Velez Sarsfield. The decision to start him, considering his lack of professional football experience, sparked significant backlash from fans, former players, and commentators alike.
The match, which occurred on Sunday, saw Buhajeruk clock just 50 seconds of play before being substituted out. What’s notable is the fact he didn’t manage to touch the ball during his brief stint on the pitch. His online fame, with over seven million subscribers on YouTube, didn’t translate to any meaningful experience on the football field. This has raised eyebrows and led to accusations of disrespecting the sport.
A commentator on TyC Sports expressed his disbelief at Buhajeruk’s performance, exclaiming, “He doesn’t even know where to stand... it’s unbelievable. This is shameful, it’s a total disgrace.” The criticism didn’t stop there; former Argentine international and now president of Estudiantes de la Plata, Juan Sebastian Veron, also weighed in, decrying the move as lacking respect for the game and its athletes. He took to Instagram to voice his discontent, stating, “A total lack of respect for football and footballers.”
The roots of this controversial move trace back to Reistra's owner, Victor Stinfale, who also runs the energy drink company sponsoring the club. According to captain Milton Celiz, Stinfale believes Buhajeruk is “number one” as a streamer, making the decision partly about drawing publicity. Coach Cristian Fabbiani corroborated this, mentioning he had informed Velez's manager about the unconventional line-up prior to the match, underlining it was primarily out of contractual obligations and to boost the club's exposure.
Fabbiani quipped about the situation, saying, “He laughed and told me to leave [Mr. Buhajeruk] on the pitch for half an hour.” His comments indicate some acceptance of the bizarre move within the professional community, even if many outside of it do not agree. Fans, meanwhile, are less supportive, with many taking to social media to express their outrage. The consensus among traditional fans of the sport seemed to be clear: football is not just entertainment; it’s about skill, dedication, and years of hard work to excel.
On the flip side, Buhajeruk seemed to take the uproar lightly, joking on social media about being “undefeated.” His playful attitude even extended to responding to photos of him with teammates, saying he was “explaining the new Minecraft update” during the match. Such comments raise questions about the seriousness of the situation for someone thrust onto the professional pitch without the necessary qualifications.
While the choice to feature Buhajeruk was made with the intention of garnering attention and leveraging his extensive online following, it has led to broader discussions around the intersection of social media influence and traditional sports. The decision has not just sparked anger; it has led to intense debates about the authenticity of sporting roles and the integrity of competitions like Argentina's Primera Division.
For many who dedicate themselves to developing their skills and competing at high levels, the idea of someone being parachuted onto the field for the sake of publicity feels like it undermines their efforts. This incident presents more than just quirky headlines; it reflects the changing nature of sports, where fame on social media can sometimes take precedence over skill and experience.
Overall, this situation exposes the challenges faced by sports franchises as they navigate the delicate balance between traditional structures and modern media dynamics, sparking conversations on the future of sports representation amid rising iconic personalities from various platforms. How will the Argentine football community respond to this shift, and what measures will be taken moving forward to preserve the sport’s integrity? This remains to be seen as discussions continue brewing around this incident.
