Rodolfo D'Onofrio, president of Club Atlético River Plate from 2013 to 2021, recalls that his first act upon taking office was to ask 'Let's see, how is the money spent at River?' and abruptly eliminate the distribution of 5,000 protocol tickets. The move, taken in the face of what he described as a suffocating economic situation, aimed to cut a resource drain the club had carried for years.
D'Onofrio explained that upon arrival he was informed of the existence of these protocols, which were essentially free tickets. "There were 5,000 protocols that we gave to people. How 5,000 protocols? We give away 5,000 tickets?", he questioned. His response was blunt: "No more, this goes no further". The decision was not without conflict, as a person who had been receiving them for seven years complained about the cancellation. The then-president replied that if they wanted the ticket, they should bring back part of the money from those seven years. After that episode, no one else came forward.
The mark of a successful tenure
That initial firmness was part of a management that, following relegation in 2011, stabilized the club and crowned it with two Copa Libertadores titles, including the historic 2018 final against Boca Juniors in Madrid. D'Onofrio is also remembered for his stance during the pepper spray incident at La Bombonera in 2015, when he went onto the pitch to protect his players after receiving a message from an ophthalmologist warning of risks of eye injuries.
Today, with River Plate sitting ninth in the Liga Profesional with 16 points after 11 games, D'Onofrio's figure still carries weight in the club's official circles. Current president Stefano Di Carlo consults him on some matters. Recently, a 'like' on Instagram from the 77-year-old former president on a post about Ramón Díaz generated expectation, although the club denied it should be interpreted as a short-term signal. The team, coming off a 1-0 win over Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto, faces a tough Sarmiento de Junín, fourth in the table, this weekend in a key match to continue climbing the standings.
The connection between D'Onofrio's legacy of austerity and the club's current competitive reality remains alive, as River prepares for an away fixture that could close the six-point gap to the league leaders.
