Boca Juniors Director Resigns Over Juan Roman Riquelme’s All Boys Absence

A prominent member of the Boca Juniors board of directors has resigned from his position in protest at coach Juan Cesar Falcioni’s management methods, as the rift created by Juan Roman Riquelme’s absence from the last match deepens within the club.

Director Horacio Palmieri revealed on Monday morning that he will give up his post at the Xeneixe with the aim of forming an opposition group, which will attempt to unseat the current administration in elections scheduled for this December.

“I will resign from the board of directors. I have been displeased for quite a while with the direction in which the current administration has been taking the club, and you are not even allowed to express yourself and have them listen to you. In Wednesday’s meeting I am going to tell them I am leaving,” Palmieri told Radio America AM 1190 earlier this morning. Pressed for specifics, the outspoken official confirmed that the treatment of Riquelme was a big factor.

“Only a crazy person wouldn’t want Riquelme in their side. He is a special talent and he played well against Godoy Cruz. For me he did everything a playmaker should, he created five decent chances and hit the post with a shot,” the director fired, before rounding on coach Falcioni for the snub.

“I don’t understand why he didn’t play against All Boys. They should at least have shown him the respect of putting him on for 45 minutes.”

Riquelme had missed Boca’s second match against Racing Club, but then declared himself fit for Saturday’s All Boys game only for ‘JC’ to leave him out to accommodate his preferred 4-4-2 diagram. The Xeneixe drew 0-0 in the Bombonera, with Riquelme’s name chanted throughout from the stands and Falcioni and co. booed off at full-time.