Sports
Estudiantes Lies and Taunts Flamengo in Rojo Case
Juan Sebastián Verón's claims ignore that the CAS preliminary injunction does not rule out sporting sanctions in the Copa Libertadores.
Estudiantes' president claimed the Argentine club holds CAS guarantees to play in the Copa Libertadores final. However, the court's own ruling leaves the door open for disciplinary sanctions over fielding Marcos Rojo against Flamengo.
Estudiantes is lying and attempting to taunt Flamengo behind the scenes of the Copa Libertadores. Juan Sebastián Verón, president of the Argentine club, gave an interview to radio station La Red on Tuesday, insisting there is no risk of elimination and claiming to have guarantees from CAS that the team will play in the final. For Bernardo Ramos, Verón’s comments do not align with the legal reality of the case, as the ruling on the merits is scheduled for November 12, more than two weeks before the tournament's final.
The provisional injunction obtained by the Argentine side to field defender Marcos Rojo against Flamengo came with an explicit caveat, first revealed by journalist Mauro César: the document specifically notes that the provisional measure does not preclude future sporting and disciplinary consequences for Estudiantes. Despite this, club executives adopted a mocking tone, such as the club's financial director, who publicly declared that Flamengo supporters should watch the final on television and try again next year.
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Estudiantes' Risks and Flamengo's Stance
In Bernardo's view, Estudiantes' board took an unnecessary risk by fielding Marcos Rojo. The defender, who has played for Manchester United, Boca Juniors, Racing, and the Argentina national team at the 2014 World Cup, took the pitch despite a formal objection filed by Flamengo even before kickoff. In point three of its filing, the Rio de Janeiro club emphasized that the international tribunal itself provided no guarantees of sporting immunity.
There is a deep history of political influence behind the scenes of South American football. The Argentine Football Association, currently headed by Chiqui Tapia and historically shaped by Julio Grondona's tenure—a period in which Independiente won seven Copa Libertadores titles between 1964 and 1984—has always wielded strong leverage within CONMEBOL. The continental governing body even released promotional materials featuring uniforms for a Palmeiras vs. Estudiantes final, yet the case remains sub judice.
Inside Flamengo, confidence in overturning the result remains absolute. Manager Leonardo Jardim addressed the issue himself following the 3–2 victory over Atlético Mineiro, signaling optimism backed by the club's legal department. According to Bernardo, while settling disputes in sports arbitration courts is far from ideal in football, the Brazilian club is entirely within its rights to defend its interests and pursue a spot in the continental final.
In the video above, Bernardo Ramos analyzes the legal details of the Marcos Rojo case, the statements from Estudiantes' board, and what to expect from the CAS hearing.
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