Leandro Paredes found himself in the middle of a controversy in Russia this week regarding a red card and the final of the Copa Libertadores.
This past weekend, Paredes earned a red card in a match between Zenit Saint Petersburg and Akhmat Grozny, prompting fans to accuse the midfielder of deliberately being sent off in order to attend the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate on Saturday.
The Argentinian was dismissed with eight minutes left in the match, and will automatically be suspended for next Sunday's clash with CSKA Moscow.
He had already planned a flight to attend the South American clash following Thursday's Europa League clash with Bordeaux, but ended up changing the timing following the red card.
Paredes was a member of Boca's academy from 2002-10 before making 28 senior appearances for the club ahead of a move to Chievo Verona in 2014.
But the midfielder, who also featured for Roma and Empoli before joining Zenit in 2017, denied the allegations.
"I was going to arrive on Sunday in Argentina, but as we played on Thursday for the Europa League in France, they proposed that I not return to Russia and travel directly from there on Friday," he told Fox Sports Argentina.
"It's all a lie. Nothing happened here. It's something that was invented in Argentina.
"I didn't earn red card on purpose, I would never do something like that.
"When I heard that this was being talked about, I talked with Zenit sporting director and he told me that they trust me."
Paredes has 12 league appearances and five Europa League appearances for the club this season, providing three goals and two assists in the process.
Boca are set to take on River on Sunday for the opening leg before facing off on November 24 in the second leg.
Away fans will not be welcome at either leg of the final.
For more information on the Copa Libertadores please visit:
http://www.copalibertadores.com/
http://www.copalibertadores.com/en/
http://www.copalibertadores.com/es/
http://www.copalibertadores.com/pt-br/
