ERIC WEIL in BUENOS AIRES: CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, marked its centenary by lowering suspensions which benefited Boca Juniors, Racing Club, Huracán, Rosario Central and River Plate among Argentinian clubs – which was hardly an ‘celebration.’

But then it aptly illustrates the organisation’s 100 years in which has made plenty of errors climaxing in corruption like, it seems, so many entities connected with football governance.

But then it is hard to understand the Argentinian government either.

After the ‘friendly` derby between La Plata clubs Estudiantes and Gimnasia y Esgrima which ended in a free-for-all between the players, the government took a hand, as it has been doing lately, by suspending the 12 footballers the referee reported for a mere two games.

Security Minister Patricia Bullrich then went to the AFA to insist on long suspensions.

Its disciplinary committee took the order and suspended most of the players for eight matches and others not much less.

Gimnasia president Daniel Onofri then announced a series of friendly games so the players could complete their suspensions promptly.

This the AFA should stop immediately.

Estudiantes’ Sebastián Verón – far wiser and more serious than his Gimnasia counterpart – said he would do no such thing and even fine his own culprits.

The Salvemos al Futból (Save Our Soccer) movement, which once gave up the fight against hooligans as useless, has re-emerged with apparent government help and has denounced the players to a court (as well as Boca Juniors’ defender Díaz and Osvaldo for gestures to spectators).

A provincial law provides for sanctions for inciting violence from three to six years’ prison. Maybe such a law should be applied to both players and hooligans.

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