Veron banned over refusal to form guard of honour

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 last week.

Angel di Maria's Rosario finished the regular season with a combined 66 points across the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, four more than Boca Juniors.

Under previous regulations, the team with the highest combined points earned only a place in the Copa Libertadores.

The Argentine top division is split into two halves, with the Apertura tournament climaxing in June and the Clausura tournament set to end next month.

After a league phase of 16 games each tournament goes into a knockout phase, with Platense winning the Apertura.

Estudiantes made the protest before their Clausura last-16 knockout match on Sunday against Rosario, which the former Argentina playmaker'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.

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.