Flamengo Files CONMEBOL Protest Against Estudiantes Over Marcos Rojo’s Libertadores Eligibility

Flamengo has formally petitioned Conmebol to award it the Copa Libertadores semifinal victory over Estudiantes, arguing that Argentine defender Marcos Rojo played the second leg under an invalid registration. The Brazilian club lodged the protest after being eliminated in a penalty shootout at the Maracanã, setting up a disciplinary deadline for the Buenos Aires-based club to respond.

Controversy Over Registration and the Court of Arbitration for Sport

The core of Flamengo’s administrative challenge targets the eligibility status of Rojo during the two-legged tie. Clarín reported that the initial dispute began before the scoreless first leg at the Estadio UNO in La Plata, when Conmebol rejected the defender’s registration under FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, specifically citing Article 6 and the International Transfer Matching System (TMS). Conmebol ruled at the time that the Argentine Football Association lacked an active transfer window when Estudiantes attempted to process the move.

Rather than accepting the ruling, Estudiantes appealed directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled in favor of the club and granted Rojo a provisional clearance. Empowered by the CAS ruling, manager Alexander Medina included Rojo in the starting lineup for the return leg in Rio de Janeiro, where the defender played 76 minutes before Estudiantes advanced Clarin.com reported. Tras recibir la habilitación, Marcos Rojo ya había jugado frente a San Lorenzo, en Boedo.

Estudiantes Responds From a Position of Legal Confidence

Despite the formal challenge lodged in Asunción, leadership within Estudiantes maintains calm. MDZ Online reported that sources close to club president Juan Sebastián Verón expressed total tranquility regarding the legality of Rojo’s participation, noting that the player’s name appeared on the official CONMEBOL good-faith roster by 11:00 AM local time on the day of the return match.

Legal analysts consulted by Olé expressed surprise at the basis of the Brazilian protest, noting that decisions rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport hold superior administrative authority within international sports law, leaving open questions as to whether Conmebol possesses the regulatory scope to overturn a ruling issued by a higher tribunal.

Estudiantes Must Submit Legal Defense by October 26

Estudiantes faces a strict deadline to defend its spot in the continental tournament. MDZ Online confirmed that the Argentine club must submit its formal legal defense to Conmebol by Monday, October 26, at 18:00 local time. Once the governing body receives the paperwork from La Plata, its disciplinary committees will evaluate the arguments from both institutions before determining whether any regulatory infraction occurred.