Estudiantes president Juan Sebastian Veron has been banned for six months by the Argentina Football Association because he refused to form a guard of honour for new champions Rosario Central.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder and his Estudiantes players were protesting at Rosario being named ‘League Champion’ as a result of a rule change made by the Argentina FA last week.
Estudiantes’ players turned their backs on Rosario’s players when they walked onto the pitch before their Clausura last-16 knockout match on Sunday, which Veron’s side won 1-0.
Veron has been given “a six-month suspension from all football-related activities”, while players who “engaged in the reprehensible conduct” have been suspended for two matches from next season.
The Argentine top division is split into two tournaments – Apertura and Clausura – and Angel di Maria’s Rosario finished the regular season with a combined tally of 66 points, four more than Boca Juniors.
Under previous regulations, the team with the highest combined points earned only a place in the Copa Libertadores.
After a league phase of 16 games each tournament goes into a knockout phase, with Platense winning the Apertura.
Estudiantes play Central Cordoba in their Clausura quarter-final on Saturday.
Apertura champions Platense will meet the Clausura champions – who will be decided through the play-offs – in the end-of-year Champions Trophy.
