Boca already knows the referee for Tuesday’s rematch at Rio’s Maracanã: Venezuelan Jesús Valenzuela. The Xeneize must overturn the 0-1 loss suffered at home against Vasco da Gama in the Sudamericana semifinal. Fans are uneasy given the official’s past dealings with the Argentine side. Could his history tilt the balance?
The Jesús Valenzuela precedent sparking concern at Boca
Valenzuela ranks among CONMEBOL’s most respected officials and is often assigned high‑stakes fixtures. Yet his latest showing at the Bombonera was marred by two contentious moments during the group‑stage clash with Cruzeiro in the Libertadores.
In that game, Miguel Merentiel appeared to net a 2‑1 lead for Boca, but Valenzuela consulted VAR and disallowed the strike, citing a hand by Milton Delgado in the box. The call sparked furious protests in a match crucial to the Xeneize’s hopes.
Near the final whistle, Lucas Romero seemed to handle the ball inside the area, yet Valenzuela refrained from awarding a penalty and VAR offered no review. Leandro Paredes vented his anger, declaring, “It’s a disgrace, you have to go check that.”
Other contentious moments involving the Venezuelan official and Boca
The grievance record also features a group‑stage tie against Fortaleza in the Copa Sudamericana 2024. Boca appealed for a spot‑kick after Benjamin Kuscevic clipped Edinson Cavani. The match ended 1‑1, leaving the Argentine side short of the group’s top spot.
Valenzuela also oversaw Boca’s 2‑0 win over Santos in the 2021 Libertadores and the identical defeat to Deportivo Cali in 2022.
In 2024 he was again in charge of the 1‑0 victory over Cruzeiro in the Sudamericana round of 16, a tie the Boca eventually lost on penalties in Belo Horizonte. For my money, his inconsistent decisions cost the team momentum.