Boca hit out at River divers following Libertadores loss

Boca Juniors coach Gustavo Alfaro and forward Ramon Abila accused River Plate players of diving following a 2-0 Copa Libertadores semi-final, first leg loss.

Colombian Rafael Borre opened the scoring on seven minutes from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the area by Emmanuel Mas. Ignacio Fernandez clinched the victory 20 minutes from time on Tuesday at River's Monumental stadium.

The penalty was awarded by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus following a VAR review.

"No-one was appealing for a penalty. They (the video assistant referees) called him and he reviewed it," complained Abila.

"It seems like they've got a lot of telephone credit because they kept calling him," added the Boca forward, whose teammate Nicolas Capaldo was sent off for an injury time foul following another VAR review.

It was the perceived diving that most irked Abila.

"We know that (River forwards) Borre, (Exequiel) Palacios and (Nicolas) De La Cruz practise simulating fouls," he said.

"In every round, River get a penalty. We knew what we were up against."

Alfaro concurred, even going so far as to reveal he had shown his players "a video of the number of situations in which River look for a penalty.