The Argentine Football Federation took action after Estudiantes refused to grant Rosario Central a guard of honor over the controversial rule change that made them champions.
Juan Sebastian Veron has been banned from playing soccer for six months following a major scandal in Argentina’s soccer world. Mr Veron is the club president of Estudiantes and refused to give Rosario Central a guard of honor after they were declared champions, which caused controversy.
The Argentine Football Association decided to change the rules midway through the season in favor of Rosario, who won their first title since 1987. The change caused a huge backlash in Argentina, with rival clubs furious that the goalposts had been moved.
Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Veron is said to have decided to order the Estudiantes players to protest the decision. Estudiantes refused to be presented with a guard of honor before a recent match, with players turning their backs when opponents took to the pitch.
It was the Clausura last-16 final that took place on Sunday, with Estudiantes winning 1-0. This action caused a stir in Argentine football and now leaves Veron and his players in a predicament.
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The AFA’s disciplinary tribunal found the 50-year-old responsible for creating an “open attitude of disapproval” that constituted “a form of symbolic violence and an insult to the values of respect and sportsmanship”.
He was handed a “six-month suspension from all football-related activities,” while the players who “conducted reprehensible conduct” were each suspended for two matches, and captain Santiago Nunez was banned from wearing an armband for three months.
Estudiantes’ players will be suspended at different times in the next competition so as not to “impact the integrity of the current competition.” This means he will be able to play in Saturday’s Clausura quarter-final against Central Cordoba.
The controversy stems from AFA’s call for change. Previously, only the team with the highest total points qualified for the Copa Libertadores. This time, however, Rosario was declared champion after accumulating a total of 66 points in the Apertura (opening) and Clausura (closing), the two competitions that make up the Primera División. This was four more than the next best team, Boca Juniors.
Strangely, this meant that despite being crowned champions, Rosario’s season ended with a 1-0 loss to Estudiantes. But the season continues and Estudiantes are still in the Clausura finals.
The team that wins in the Clausura will face Apertura champions Platense, who were previously crowned Argentine champions, in the Champions Trophy at the end of the year.
Estudiantes said in a statement: “We are analyzing in detail the sanctions received in order to take appropriate measures to protect the interests of the association and its members. In this connection, the board expresses its full support to president Juan Sebastian Veron, Mr. Santiago Nuñez and the entire professional team.”
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