The Argentina international was snapped at a New Years' Day dinner alongside several heavyweights of the club's barra, but insisted the event was a one-off
Carlos Tevez has denied he is friendly with Boca Juniors' violent 'La 12' barra brava group but admits a picture of him alongside the hooligans is authentic.
The former Juventus man found himself in the spotlight when a photograph showing him with several '12' heavyweights was published on the front page of an Argentine magazine.
Among those raising a New Years toast with Carlitos are Mauro Martin, the head of the hooligan group recently sentenced to six months in prison for charges related to violent incidents at a game; and Rafael Di Zeo, the ex-chief who spent four years behind bars and faces further charges of attempted murder.
"The photo is not faked, but I do not have any relationship with the barra," Tevez told Fox Sports after the controversial image hit newsstands.
"I was with them just once, when I came to Boca. They asked me to go to a guy's house to sign some flags for him.
"It seems now like nobody knows anybody, they are all hiding."
Boca president Daniel Angelici also tried to play down the photo.
"I haven't talked to him, but a lot of things get invented," he said after Sunday's Superclasico draw with River Plate.
"The photo happened, sure, he has a lot of social events."
- Goal