Verón slams Conmebol for knocking out Independiente: "Easy way out" | OneFootball

The president of Estudiantes stood up for the Argentine team after the entity that governs football on the continent removed them from the Copa Sudamericana following the incidents against Universidad de Chile.

After Conmebol eliminated Independiente from the Copa Sudamericana as punishment for the incidents that occurred in Avellaneda during the second leg of the round of 16 against Universidad de Chile, the president of Estudiantes, Juan Sebastián Verón, questioned the decision: "They chose the easiest way".

In a story he posted on his Instagram account after the decision was announced on Thursday night, the Brujita wrote: "Very difficult to understand how they came to make such a decision... and I don't justify any kind of violence, but it's all very unfair".

The Argentine team not only was left out of the competition but also must pay a fine of 250 thousand dollars, while the Chilean team is the one that will advance to the next stage to play against Alianza Lima, behind closed doors and at the Coquimbo stadium.

It should be noted that the management, with Néstor Grindetti as the highest authority, does not rule out appealing to Conmebol (or even going to the CAS). The intention would not be to appeal the sporting aspect, but rather the other sanctions regarding the presence of the public (they will not be able to play with an audience in the next seven matches) and the financial penalty. A meeting with the lawyers is expected early this Friday to analyze the steps to follow.

This is not the first time the leader of the Pincha has targeted the entity that governs South American football because in 2022 he was very harsh with the Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte, who, at the VAR's suggestion, annulled a goal by Luciano Lollo for an alleged offside by Jorge Morel in the second half of the Copa Libertadores quarter-final second leg against Athlético Paranaense.

"CONMEBOL doing what CONMEBOL does, no matter when you read this", he first wrote on his social media, and then, in some heated audios, he lashed out: "I know you, you come to rob us in the face. Fucking coward, asshole, snitch, it will come back to you. For being a jerk, an asshole, and a snitch. I played football for twenty years, I know you well".

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