This weekend, Vélez and Huracán will face each other again on the last date of a local tournament, reliving the controversial match that defined the Closing 2009. On that occasion, a controversial refereeing marked the outcome of the championship, leaving an indelible mark in the fans’ memories. Gabriel Brazenas, the main referee From that meeting he worked on that fine one.
The 2009 confrontation between E Fortín and El Globo remained in the history of Argentine football due to the refereeing decisions that They favored the Liniers club. Since then, Brazenas, who was at the center of criticism, left the profession and had to rebuild his life away from the media spotlight.
What happened to the life of Gabriel Brazenas after his retirement after the Vélez-Huracán
Gabriel Brazenas’ refereeing in the decisive match of the 2009 Clausura unleashed a storm that transformed his life forever. In that meeting, the errors referees angered the Huracán fans and put end to the professional career of the international referee.
After the game, Brazenas tried to continue refereeing, but In 2010 he officially retired by not passing the physical tests required by the AFA. His connection with football, however, did not completely fade: coached in unofficial regional tournaments and found job opportunities outside of sports.
In parallel, the death threats that he received from angry fans forced him to leave his hometown of Lanús, where many Huracán fans blamed him for the lost title. This pressure led him to a more discreet life, away from media exposure.
At a work level, the referee also had to reinvent himself. For a time he worked as advisor at the Sports Secretariat and in the public administrationbut after retiring from refereeing his life leaned towards occupations further away from the spotlight, including jobs as a bricklayer to support his family.
Despite everything, Gabriel Brazenas never completely separated himself from football. His experience as a referee made him a well-known figure in local and regional tournaments, although he was never able to regain the prestigious position he had achieved before the Vélez-Huracán match.
What Brazenas said about the controversial Vélez-Huracán play at Clausura 2009
In numerous post-match interviews, Brazenas defended his refereeing decisions, arguing that his performance was based on what he observed on the field of play. About the famous play in which Joaquín Larrivey impacted goalkeeper Gastón Monzón, he stated: “For me, It was not a foul from Larrivey to Monzón. On the court it is not iron. On television it is one thing and on the field it is another”.
The referee also highlighted that the criticism was disproportionate and noted that there were refereeing errors in both directions. He cited as an example a previous play in which he did not sanction a penalty from Carlos Arano to Fabián Cubero, arguing that he made similar decisions in both situations.
On another occasion, Brazenas stated that he had no intention of harming Huracán and that he acted honestly. In his words: “I don’t feel like I screwed up Huracán in 2009. Football is for this: the back and forth, being very subjective. “I felt like I got what I saw on the court.”
Finally, Brazenas reflected on the impact that the match had on his life, recognizing that that confrontation marked a before and after in his professional and personal career. Despite the criticism, he stated: “Not making a decision is also making a decision. “I didn’t have any different criteria regarding the equality of the plays.”
Gabriel Brazenas’ story is a reminder of how a single match can change everything. While Vélez and Huracán once again face each other for a title at stake, his figure continues to be a symbol of one of the most remembered days in Argentine football.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
