Players spend their time simulating fouls either to gain the advantage of a free kick in their favor (Passerini) or to cover up a mistake (Advíncula) The consequence of this scenic vocation that spreads throughout Argentine football is a short, annoying game, without rhythm. The net time of the last River-Boca was just 41 minutes, 9 less than the average of the local tournament and 18 less than that of the Premier League.
It is often repeated like a mantra that the result of a match is often defined ‘by details’ and we will have to see if faking infractions does not fall into this nebulous category.