On-field excitement and off-field silliness in Argentina's top flight

With the Liga Profesional de Fútbol’s Clausura play-offs up and running and already gifting us a couple of memorable games, not to mention the latest heroic triumph from an Argentine team over formidable Brazilian opposition, who could have imagined that we would spend most of the week arguing furiously over dubious titles and disrespectful guards of honour?

Thanks to the AFA, Rosario Central and Estudiantes de La Plata, Argentine football stirred one of its classic storm-in-a-teacup uproars – and it did not disappoint.

This latest absurd scandal erupted last Thursday morning with a most unexpected plot twist. Shortly after Rosario Central ace Ángel Di María affirmed that his team deserved a title for finishing at the top of the 2025 annual standings, the AFA obliged. Seemingly out of nowhere, Di María, Central boss Ariel Holan and other club worthies were smiling at Viamonte alongside AFA chief Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia and being proclaimed Argentina's latest champions, before posing with the freshly minted League Champion trophy in a taxi.

There had been no indication previously that the most efficient points-harvester of the year would be honoured in such a manner – remember that due to the vagaries of the current system, Central faced only 16 of the 29 other clubs that make up the top flight – and the decision process also came into question. Contradicting the AFA line, Estudiantes asserted that there had been no vote, much less a unanimous one, to crown Central in this manner, a bold act of rebellion not least because they would be travelling up to Rosario that very weekend to take on the new 'champions'.

Viamonte hit back by ordering the Pincha to give Central a guard of honour prior to kick-off, but Estudiantes were not done, turning their backs on the Canallas before dispatching them 1-0 to advance to the Clausura quarters. 

A title hangover for Central? Or football justice being served in mysterious ways? The saga was not yet quite over even with that result. Following ‘Backsgate’ (as this column will from hereon out refer to the botched guard of honour), AFA rustled up an old bulletin assuring it is a punishable offence to taint such moments. But the PDF of that ruling appeared to be recently doctored, adding an extra layer of farce to proceedings. 

In any case, a fine appears to be the most likely ruling for Argentina's rebels without a pause as they gear up to face Central Córdoba in the next round – closely linked with AFA treasurer Pablo Toviggino, who taunted the Pincha and club president Juan Sebastián Verón in the build-up to the Central game. What a mess.

We'd be remiss to let all that nonsense distract us entirely from the great football on offer this past week. Pride of place take Lanús, who repeated Racing's exploits from 2024 in taking thousands of fans to Paraguay and beating a mighty Belo Horizonte-based team, this time Atlético Mineiro, to win the Copa Sudamericana. 

Nahuel Losada was the Grana's hero as he saved three shootout kicks to clinch the title – a wonderful redemption title for the goalkeeper who, as a teenage father and struggling Estudiantes academy member, almost jacked in the game to drive a taxi before breaking through with Belgrano and then Lanús. 

Unlike Estudiantes, Tigre did face their opponents on Tuesday for a guard of honour to mark the Sudamericana triumph, but the final outcome was otherwise identical: a win for the away team courtesy of David Romero's solitary goal to ruin title celebrations.

There was plenty of action elsewhere in the Clausura last-16. Racing Club and River Plate starred in the most exciting game of the round, won 3-2 by the former by way of a thrilling late goal from Gastón Martirena. Gimnasia also came up big with an exceptional first half to upset Unión in Santa Fe, while Boca and Argentinos Juniors set up perhaps the most interesting tie of the coming quarters by breezing past Talleres and Vélez respectively.

On-field excitement and off-field silliness: Argentine football continues to serve up the perfect formula to keep us hooked, excited and furious year after year.