Estudiantes president Juan Sebastián Verón has been suspended for six months by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) after he declined to form a guard of honour for newly designated champions Rosario Central.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder, along with the Estudiantes squad, protested Rosario Central’s recognition as “League Champions” following a rule change introduced by the AFA last week.
Before Sunday’s Clausura last-16 knockout match — which Estudiantes won 1-0 — Verón’s players turned their backs as the Rosario Central team entered the pitch in place of forming the customary guard of honour.
The AFA confirmed Verón has received “a six-month suspension from all football-related activities.” Several Estudiantes players deemed to have “engaged in the reprehensible conduct” were handed two-match bans to be served at the start of next season.
Argentina’s top flight is divided into two competitions, the Apertura and Clausura. Angel Di María’s Rosario Central finished the combined regular-season table with 66 points, four ahead of Boca Juniors. Under the previous format, topping the aggregate standings only secured a Copa Libertadores berth.
Each tournament consists of a 16-game league phase followed by knockout rounds. Platense won the Apertura earlier in the year.
Estudiantes face Central Córdoba in their Clausura quarter-final on Saturday, while Apertura winners Platense await the Clausura champions — decided through ongoing play-offs — in the end-of-year Champions Trophy.
