Former Manchester United Star at Centre of Argentine Football Storm
Juan Sebastian Veron, the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder, finds himself embroiled in a major controversy shaking Argentine football. The club president of Estudiantes has been handed a significant sporting ban following his team's extraordinary protest against a newly created title awarded to Rosario Central.
The Controversial Title That Sparked Outrage
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) introduced a new honour this season that would be decided by combining points from both the Aperture and Clausura tournaments. This late-season decision ultimately saw Rosario Central, now home to former Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria, declared champions in a private ceremony earlier this month.
Di Maria, who returned to his boyhood club this summer after previously being deterred by death threats, collected the trophy alongside club officials and goalkeeper Jorge Broun. However, the manner of the title award and its timing mid-season immediately drew criticism from several quarters.
The Protest That Shook Argentine Football
When Rosario Central arrived at Estudiantes' ground for their Clausura last-16 clash last weekend, they received anything but a traditional welcome. Instead of the customary guard of honour, Estudiantes players formed the tunnel then turned their backs on the visiting team in a powerful display of dissent.
This act of defiance, quickly dubbed 'Pasillogate' after the Spanish term for guard of honour, prompted swift punishment from football authorities. The AFA handed out substantial sanctions to multiple Estudiantes players and officials involved in the protest.
Veron, who serves as club president nine years after re-joining his childhood team for his final playing season, received the harshest punishment: a six-month ban from all sporting functions. All eleven players who participated in the reverse guard of honour were given two-match bans to serve during the next tournament.
Club captain Santiago Nunez received additional sanctions, being banned from serving as on-field captain for the next three months. The Argentina international has been a vocal critic of AFA president Chiqui Tapia, adding political tension to the sporting controversy.
Fallout and Family Reactions
The scandal has extended beyond the pitch, with Veron's wife Valentina Martin taking to social media to express her outrage. She described the AFA hierarchy as "mafiosos of Argentine football" and called for a strike to "put an end to this mafia," suggesting the authorities feared her husband's influence in the game.
Estudiantes quickly issued a statement backing their president, confirming he retains the "absolute support" of both the Board of Directors and the playing squad. Despite the controversy swirling around them, Estudiantes went on to win the match 1-0, adding sporting success to their principled stand.
When questioned about the unusual guard of honour, Di Maria preferred to remain diplomatic. "It's their business," the former Paris Saint-Germain star commented. "They built the guard of honour anyway. One of the guys told us they were going to do that, and that's fine. We went in the way we were supposed to, and that's that."
The incident highlights growing tensions within Argentine football governance and raises questions about mid-season rule changes affecting competition integrity. With Veron's ban and ongoing disputes, this scandal appears far from resolved.
