Fans praise Premier League cult hero Javier Mascherano after he pleads with referee for bizarre rule-change DURING game

JAVIER MASCHERANO begged officials to instrumentality an unthinkable regularisation alteration during Argentina Under-20s' clash with Bolivia.

The erstwhile Liverpool, West Ham and Barcelona prima present coaches the Argentine Under-20s, having hung up his boots successful 2020.

Over the weekend, his broadside hosted Bolivia successful a affable match.

Argentina took an aboriginal lead, earlier things threatened to get disfigured for their visitors.

After 13 minutes, Bolivia's Nathan Tito was reddish carded for a situation from down connected Lautaro Millan.

As Millan, who plays his nine shot for Independiente, was treated by aesculapian staff, Tito trudged disconnected the pitch.

Rather than play against 10 men, however, Mascherano was determined for the affable lucifer to stay 11 vs 11.

In unthinkable footage, the 40-year-old could beryllium seen pleading with the referee and 4th authoritative to let Bolivia to bring a substitute connected for Tito.

Amazingly his privation was granted, with the visitors allowed to transportation connected with a afloat compliment of players.

The antithetic incidental was aboriginal cleared up by the section broadcast.

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"It has conscionable been agreed betwixt some delegations, astatine the petition of manager Mascherano, that Bolivia introduces different subordinate to guarantee the lucifer stays balanced astatine 11-a-side," a connection read.

As it happened, being allowed to proceed with 11 players didn't bash Bolivia overmuch good, arsenic they inactive went connected to suffer 4-0.

But fans loved Mascherano's gesture.

One wrote connected societal media: "Man cares much astir coaching his squad decently than getting an casual win. Elite mentality."

While a 2nd gushed: "Smart guy, cares much astir coaching than winning a friendly."

A 3rd added: "Fair outcry successful a affable isn’t it, you privation to beryllium tested different there’s nary point."

Argentina are presently preparing to vie astatine the South American U20 Championship successful January.

Mascherano volition beryllium hoping to amended his side's fortunes successful Venezuela, aft they failed to marque it retired of the radical signifier past clip around.