Zenit's Paredes denies deliberately getting sent off to watch Copa Libertadores final

Zenit St Petersburg star, and Boca Juniors academy graduate, Leandro Paredes has denied accusations that he got himself deliberately sent off so that he would be suspended and free to watch the Copa Libertadores final.

Leandro Paredes argues with a Russian referee. Source: Getty Images

Paredes was sent off after a second yellow card in the 83rd minute against Ajmat, for aiming a kick at Ravanelli Ferreira dos Santos.

The red card means the 24-year-old will miss this Sunday's (AEDT) match against CSKA Moscow, and led to claims on social media that he will now be free to watch Boca Juniors against their fiercest rivals River Plate in a Superclasico Copa Libertadores final (LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS).

Paredes supported Boca as a child and was in their youth system for eight years, before spending another four in the first team where he made 28 apperances. 

The Argentinian international 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,” Paredes 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.”

The Copa Libertadores final first leg - Boca Juniors v River Plate - is LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS from 6:30am (AEDT) on Sunday morning.