The Argentinian squad Estudiantes boasts a significant and enduring connection with Juan Sebastian Veron, formerly of Man United and Chelsea.
He initially made his mark at that club during his younger years in the 1990s and subsequently concluded his playing days there a couple of decades later.
Ex-Player from Man United and Chelsea Faces a Half-Year Ban
However, Veron’s tenure in the English league proved less fruitful. He dedicated two years to Man United before transferring to Chelsea in 2003, a team bolstered by fresh investment.
Although officially contracted to Stamford Bridge for four seasons, he spent three of those on loan, playing for Inter Milan and Estudiantes, before ultimately making a permanent return to his childhood club in 2007.
Since his retirement from playing, Veron assumed the role of president at the club based in La Plata. Recently, he gained attention in the media for allegedly directing his team to snub Rosario Central, their opponents, during the ceremonial guard of honour.
Rosario secured the title of ‘league champions’ by topping Argentina’s Primera Division; however, the league’s structure is not based on a straightforward, single-table format.
Rather, at the culmination of the season, a play-off knockout tournament takes place, and it’s this competition that definitively determines the champion.
To express their disagreement with Rosario’s title, the Estudiantes team arranged themselves to receive the ‘league champions’ at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, before their Clausura last-16 play-off encounter. However, rather than showing their respect by applauding Rosario’s players onto the field, the Estudiantes team acted in unison by turning their backs to the incoming players.
Subsequently, the AFA has imposed ‘a six-month suspension from all football-related activities’ on Veron. Furthermore, the Estudiantes players who ‘participated in the condemnable behaviour’ are also facing a two-match suspension that will be effective starting from the next season.
Estudiantes were forced by the AFA to give Rosario Central a guard of honor after this tweet, and they gave one today by TURNING THEIR BACK AGAINST the ‘champions’. Unprecedented scenes!pic.twitter.com/y83JGJ0eMJ https://t.co/uMrcrSsM1mNovember 23, 2025
