Acuna pursued Dumfries to the dressing room tunnel amidst flagpoles thrown by Argentine fans. The Inter player stated he did not receive racist abuse.
The confrontation between Dumfries and Acuna in Seattle was not triggered by racist insults but marked the latest episode in their long-standing rivalry. Their clash escalated into a scuffle, reminiscent of a previous incident during the December 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, where heated words were exchanged after Argentina`s penalty win, leading to Dumfries chasing Acuna and initiating a general melee. A similar scene unfolded yesterday at the conclusion of the Inter-River match.
River Plate, under coach Gallardo, had adopted a physical approach from the outset. In the second half, particularly after Inter took the lead, the intensity of challenges escalated further, even provoking reactions from the Inter bench. During one instance, Acuna was seen arguing with staff members seated behind coach Chivu. On the pitch, Acuna and Dumfries frequently clashed. This culminated at the final whistle when Acuna actively pursued Dumfries, who retreated towards the dressing room tunnel, notably while River fans threw flagpoles.
Racism Denied
The situation extended into the dressing room tunnel, where Argentine players were divided, with some attempting to restrain Acuna`s fury while others chased and shouted insults at Dumfries, who was shielded by his teammates. Harsh words were undoubtedly exchanged. However, Dumfries, when questioned after the match, explicitly denied receiving any racist remarks.
The incident was widely regarded as unseemly. River coach Marcelo Gallardo publicly criticized the behaviour during his press conference, stating, “What happened does not represent us; this is not the image I want River to project globally. It was truly regrettable.”
