El Rojo explain why they didn’t honour the latest champions in Avellaneda | OneFootball

Independiente hosted Estudiantes at the Libertadores de América for the first matchday of the Torneo Apertura, but did not perform the traditional guard of honor for El Pincha, the reigning champions of Argentine football. The decision was not an act of defiance: according to Bulletin No. 6625 from the Disciplinary Tribunal, the guard of honor “in recognition of the team that won a competition” must be performed at the champion team's first home match.

Due to this regulation, the tribute falls to the visiting team that faces Estudiantes in their next home game: in this case, it will be Boca on Wednesday, January 28 at 22:15. The measure aims to respect the regulations, although it has not always been strictly applied: in 2025, for example, Central Córdoba did not honor Independiente Rivadavia after they won the Copa Argentina.

The guard of honor was also affected by the impact of Estudiantes’ championship on Independiente, as it deprived El Rojo of the chance to play in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana, a spot they would have secured if Racing had been crowned champions.

On another note, the Estudiantes players sanctioned for their incident with Rosario Central will be able to play, after the Executive Committee decided to grant amnesty to all punished footballers. Thus, the match was played as normal, without the traditional tribute, but in compliance with the current regulations.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.