Former Manchester United and Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has been handed a six-month suspension from all football-related activities by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) after his club Estudiantes refused to form a guard of honour for Rosario Central.
The controversy stems from Rosario Central being declared league champions following a rule change, having ended the regular season of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments with a combined 66 points. Estudiantes players turned their backs on Rosario's players as they walked onto the pitch for Sunday's Clausura last-16 match, protesting the title that was not outlined in the competition's original rules.
Under previous regulations, the team with the highest annual points earned only a Copa Libertadores berth, while Apertura champions Platense are set to face the Clausura champions in the end-of-year Champions Trophy. The AFA Disciplinary Tribunal stated that Veron, who is also Estudiantes' president, received a six-month ban, while the players involved in the 'reprehensible conduct' were suspended for two matches.
The sanctions will be served in the next tournament, allowing the players to feature in Saturday's Clausura quarter-final against Central Cordoba. The AFA also noted that the players will not all serve their bans in the same matches to avoid affecting the integrity of the current competition.
