Estudiantes president Juan Sebastian Veron has been banned for six months by the Argentina Football Association because he refused to form a guard of honour for new champions Rosario Central.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder and his Estudiantes players were protesting at Rosario being named 'League Champion' as a result of a rule change made by the Argentina FA last week.

The Argentine top division is split into two tournaments - Apertura and Clausura - and Angel di Maria's Rosario finished the regular season with a combined tally of 66 points, four more than Boca Juniors.

Under previous regulations, the team with the highest combined points earned only a place in the Copa Libertadores.

After a league phase of 16 games each tournament goes into a knockout phase, with Platense winning the Apertura.

Estudiantes made the protest before their Clausura last-16 knockout match on Sunday against Rosario, which the former Argentina playmaker's side won 1-0.

Veron has been given "a six-month suspension from all football-related activities", while players who "engaged in the reprehensible conduct" have been suspended for two matches from next season.

Estudiantes play Central Cordoba in their Clausura quarter-final on Saturday.

Apertura champions Platense will meet the Clausura champions - who will be decided through the play-offs - in the end-of-year Champions Trophy.