Estudiantes president Juan Sebastian Veron has been banned for six months by the Argentina Football Association after he refused to form a guard of honour for new champions Rosario Central.
Veron, a former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder, and his Estudiantes players were protesting Rosario being declared league champions due to a rule change made last week.
The Argentine top division has two tournaments, Apertura and Clausura. Rosario finished the regular season with 66 points, four more than Boca Juniors. Under the old rules, the team with the highest points only earned a place in the Copa Libertadores. After 16 games, each tournament moves into a knockout stage, with Platense winning the Apertura.
Estudiantes protested before their Clausura last-16 match against Rosario, which they won 1-0. Veron has been suspended from all football activities for six months, while the players involved will miss the first two games of next season.
Estudiantes face Central Córdoba in their Clausura quarter-final on Saturday. The Apertura champions Platense will meet the Clausura winners in the end-of-year Champions Trophy.
