The president of Estudiantes de La Plata, Juan Sebastián Verón, has once again heavily criticized the Argentine Football Association (AFA) following the accident involving three minibuses with 'Pincha' fans heading to Santiago del Estero for the Clausura Tournament final against Racing Club. The choice of Santiago del Estero as the venue was questioned by multiple clubs and sectors of the fanbase, who believe the great distance from Buenos Aires—the home of both finalists—represents a greater difficulty for fan mobilization and a risk in terms of logistics and road safety. The conflict between Verón and the AFA predates the accident. In those instances, he also criticized the AFA's management for what he considered a lack of consideration towards the club and its institutional position, although at the time the dispute focused more on disciplinary sanctions than organizational issues. Verón's reaction comes against a backdrop of increasing tension between Estudiantes and the leadership of Argentine football, where the club's executives have publicly expressed their disagreements over tournament planning, venue selection, and the treatment given to clubs with greater tradition and social base in the country. Club authorities stated that “the situation is under control” and that they would continue to provide official information through institutional channels regarding any updates. On his social media, Verón shared the club's statement and added a critical message towards the organizers of Argentine football for scheduling the final in the north of the country, forcing fans to undertake an extensive and logistically complex journey. Buenos Aires, December 14, 2025 - Total News Agency - TNA - The president of Estudiantes de La Plata, Juan Sebastián Verón, has once again heavily criticized the Argentine Football Association (AFA) following the accident involving three minibuses with 'Pincha' fans heading to Santiago del Estero for the Clausura Tournament final against Racing Club. In recent weeks, the president of the La Plata-based club has had a strong exchange with the leadership at Viamonte street over sanctions imposed on Estudiantes following a protest gesture in a previous match and over administrative decisions of the tournament that, according to Verón, benefited other teams. The leader questioned the organization of the event and accused those responsible for Argentine football of a “lack of empathy with the member and the fan,” in statements that reignite an institutional conflict that has been dragging on for weeks. The traffic accident occurred on National Route 8, at Solís, when three minibuses transporting La Plata-based supporters collided with each other. The executive closed his statement with an ironic tone: “Then they sell you that ‘the club belongs to the members,’ a phrase that highlights his criticism of the federative management. The collision of the minibuses occurred as fans were traveling to the Estadio Madre de Ciudades, the venue for one of the most important tournaments of the year in Argentine football, which amplified the displeasure of Verón and the Estudiantes leadership. “The lack of empathy with the member and the fan is total, they expose people to travel without anyone caring about the consequences,” he expressed forcefully, questioning that despite the distance and risks taken by the followers, the AFA leadership had not considered more accessible alternatives. Verón's criticism, a figure deeply identified with Estudiantes as a former player and now as president, could further deepen these institutional frictions if dialogue and negotiation spaces are not found. Beyond the criticisms, part of Estudiantes' environment also highlighted that, despite the accident and the complications of the trip, the fans were able to continue their journey and attend the sporting event, although the episode left a mark of concern about the planning of this type of massive mobilizations in decisive matches of national football. The club reported in a statement that three people suffered minor injuries and were transferred to the Pilar Hospital as a precaution, while the rest of the passengers were in good condition and the contingent resumed their journey with new units.
