Ten days ahead of Boca’s elections, coming on the heels of an Argentine Cup setback, the club’s tenacious leadership pressed their advantage with an old, familiar script aimed at the opposition.
On December 2, Boca will stage a pivotal moment in its electoral saga, with Juan Román Riquelme deciding to lead the ruling party’s list and pursue another term. He will confront Mauricio Macri, who intends to reenter politics as vice president and throw his weight behind Andrés Ibarra’s candidacy. The clash centers not just on personal legacies but on the future direction of a club whose heartbeat lies in its fans and its storied past.
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The campaign atmosphere is heating up. In the afternoon, security and logistics teams carried out a meticulous assessment of the Bombonera to tally voting members, a task that drew a cautious response from ten club members who opted for a direct, explosive message in the wake of the team’s loss to Estudiantes, which eliminated Boca from the Argentine Cup and intensified the heat around the club’s political leadership.
In a lengthy and revealing interview with TyC Sports hosted by Mario Kempes, Román recounted a cautionary episode involving a former sponsor and an influential figure in club politics. He explained that he had learned, several months earlier, that the Qatar Airways sponsorship might be jeopardized. The person who aspires to reclaim the presidency reportedly told him that if Boca did not secure the number 9 position from the Qatari squad to promote that sponsor for the World Cup, the airline would withdraw support. This turning point, according to Riquelme, underscored a broader strategic dilemma about sponsorship, visibility, and political leverage within the club’s framework.
Riquelme further asserted his clear preferences for the club’s on-field leadership, emphasizing his long-standing admiration for Benedetto and Cavani over any potential acquisition of a Qatar-based number 9, whom he notes he does not even know. The remarks underscore a tension between star power, financial backing, and the instinct to preserve the club’s authentic identity while negotiating the realities of modern football politics. The dialogue also hints at how past sponsorship decisions can ripple into present-day governance debates at Boca.
All told, the election season is shaping up to be a referendum on how Boca balances tradition with ambition, the influence of external political figures, and the management choices that will determine the club’s trajectory in the years ahead. The spotlight remains fixed on Riquelme, Macri, and Ibarra as the main protagonists whose choices will resonate with supporters and stakeholders across Argentina and beyond. The outcome will likely set a tone for the club’s governance, financial strategy, and competitive priorities in a landscape where football and politics often intertwine, with fans watching closely how leadership decisions translate into on-pitch performance and club stability.
Note: The above synthesis reflects ongoing reporting and public statements as observed in football coverage, with attribution to Goal for the core reporting context.