The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has suspended Juan Sebastian Veron, president of Estudiantes de la Plata, from all football-related activities for six months after his players protested during a guard of honor for Rosario Central on Sunday.
All 11 players involved in the protest before the Round of 16 match of the Clausura tournament have received two-match bans. This protest came three days after Argentine football officials controversially decided to award Central a new trophy for the regular season.
The league consists of two tournaments: the Apertura (opening) and Clausura (closing), both relying on playoffs to crown a champion. However, last Thursday, the AFA surprised the nation by declaring the team with the most overall points as “league champion.”
Rosario Central finished with the highest points total (66) in the regular phase across both tournaments, a title that was awarded to them last week with star forward Angel Di Maria receiving the trophy.
Estudiantes was unique among teams in publicly opposing this decision, citing the lack of a proper vote as per league regulations.
Players from Estudiantes were instructed by the AFA to participate in the usual guard of honor for the champions at the start of the Clausura competition at Rosario’s Gigante de Aloito Stadium. Instead, they turned their backs on the newly crowned champions, marking an unprecedented act in Argentine soccer.
Estudiantes managed to win the match 1-0 with a goal from Edwin Setre, eliminating Rosario Central from the competition.
Following this, the league’s disciplinary committee sanctioned Veron and the players on Thursday.
– Rosario Central, Angel Di Maria awarded an unexpected Argentine title
After rejoining his childhood team, club president Veron has faced a six-month ban from sporting activities. A former star player for Manchester United, Chelsea, Lazio, and Argentina, Veron has been vocal about his criticisms of the AFA and its president, Claudio Tapia, and the rule violation was determined to be his responsibility.
The players will serve their two-match suspensions starting from the first tournament of 2026, allowing Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and others to play in Saturday’s Clausura quarter-final against Central Cordoba.
Additionally, captain Santiago Nunez has been barred from acting as on-field captain for three months.
Estudiantes de la Plata expressed on social media: “The Board of Directors fully supports President Juan Sebastian Veron, Mr. Santiago Nuñez, and the entire professional team.”
Under Tapia’s management, the league has seen numerous changes in tournament format and promotion/relegation rules. Notably, a new trophy has never been introduced mid-season until now.
Information from ESPN Argentina and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fan Take: This situation highlights ongoing tensions in Argentine soccer, revealing how governance issues can deeply impact the sport’s integrity and fan experience. For devoted fans, these developments could signal a shift in the landscape of Argentine football, affecting future tournament formats and club rivalries.
