The soaring temperatures in Santiago del Estero weren’t the only thing heating up the night at Madre de Ciudades: at the end of the first half of the match, the “Malvinas March” blared over the stadium’s loudspeakers, an unusual occurrence that sounded like a ruse against Juan Sebastian Veron.
Although Pincha’s stay was not the most comfortable – due to the intense heat, power outages at the hotel and complaints of police “mistreatment” towards fans – the match seemed to lack more excitement. After the first half ended scoreless, the halftime match not only attracted attention, but also went beyond what was purely sporting.
As the march began, a section of the crowd began shouting “vendepatria,” pointing directly at Juan Sebastian Veron. The accusations – which are usually circulated on social media from sectors at odds with the leader – this time did not remain in digital confusion: rather, they were amplified from the stands, in a context that many interpreted as a clear provocation.
In the first minutes, some thought it might be a tribute linked to the presence of local coach Omar De Filippi, a former Malvinas fighter. But the hypothesis quickly collapsed: the initiative arose from the organization of the Santiago club, a “blessing” that could, as it turned out, be analyzed by the AFC Disciplinary Court.
The truth is, it’s difficult to read this episode in isolation. The relationship between Veron and the Argentine Football Association is going through weeks of strong tensions, after public and private discussions revealed their differences with Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia. In this context, many interpreted what happened as part of a broader political climate, in which symbolic gestures also play a role.
For their part, neither Estudiantes nor Central Cordoba issued official statements, adding to suspicions that it was a deliberate decision rather than a routine error.