Rosario Central were crowned champions of the 2026 Supercopa Internacional after a 3-1 win over Estudiantes, but a mass brawl in the stadium tunnel has triggered a disciplinary process that could lead to suspensions. The AFA's Tribunal de Disciplina will analyse referee Darío Herrera's report and footage to determine sanctions, with a verdict expected this week.
The conflict erupted around the 52nd minute of the match in Santiago del Estero. Players, substitutes and technical staff from both teams spilled onto the pitch, forcing a halt to the game. The situation escalated when Estudiantes president Juan Sebastián Verón "entered the field of play to confront Darío Herrera". Shoving and blows continued in the tunnel to the dressing rooms, delaying the restart.
Tribunal's Deliberation
Herrera will submit his official report on Monday. The tribunal must decide whether any suspensions apply only to the Torneo Clausura or to all AFA competitions, including national cups. In precedents like the 2022 Trofeo de Campeones, sanctions were served in the domestic league. The AFA believes failing to punish would set a dangerous precedent.
For Rosario Central, second in the Liga Profesional with 18 points, any bans would be a blow during a rich vein of form. The team is on a three-game winning streak, including this title, and next faces Banfield on Monday, October 6th.
The match had been controlled by Central from the start. Alexis Castro opened the scoring for Estudiantes inside the first minute, but Ángel Di María, with a free-kick and a penalty, and Julián Fernández turned the game around. Di María is the team's top scorer this season with eight goals. The rivalry between these clubs intensified after Central's 2025 league title and a previous Clausura round of 16 clash.
Estudiantes, who face Platense in the Copa Argentina quarter-finals on Thursday, also reported injuries to Guido Carrillo, Gabriel Neves and Jaluil Elías during the match. Rosario Central now await the disciplinary ruling to plan for their trip to Banfield, a team they beat 2-1 in their last meeting in March. The updated league table is on our standings page.
