Man Utd flop Marcos Rojo slapped with five-game ban for punching security guard in tunnel

Ex Man United flop Marcus Rojo has been making headlines in Argentina, he was sent off in the superclasico, and he has now been slapped with a five-match ban for an incident that occurred in July

Posted Monday, October 11, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Former Manchester United defender Marcus Rojo has been handed a five-game ban an £18,000 fine for his part in an ugly tunnel brawl last July.

Rojo had been at the heart of a brawl that featured players and staff from both Boca Juniors and Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro.

The pair had just played out a controversial draw at the Estádio Mineirão in the Last 16 of South America's premier competition, the Copa Libertadores.

Boca thought they had grabbed a winner through Marcelo Weigandt, but VAR intervened, and Mineiro emerged victorious on penalties.

And the result lead to ugly scenes following the full-time whistle.

Footage showed Rojo striking the steward

Grainy footage emerged online where Rojo was seen squaring up to a security guard before swinging at the member of the staff.

Rojo was also spotted grabbing a fire extinguisher as the carnage around him reached its boiling point.

Peruvian defender Carlos Zambrano and Colombian striker Sebastian Villa were both taken to the police station as a result of the riot.

However, they were joined by the rest of their team at the police station.

The Boca manager Miguel Angel Russo said: “If the two stay, we stay too. Let's go all or none."

Following an investigation into the events, CONMEBOL released a statement: "Suspend the player Marcos Rojo for five matches.

"This sanction must comply with the provisions of Articles 73 and following of the Disciplinary Code of CONMEBOL.

"Likewise, the Player Marcos Rojo is imposed a fine of $25,000 (£18,000).

"The amount of this fine will be automatically debited from the amount to be received by Club Atletico Boca Juniors, in respect of Television or Sponsorship rights."

Mineiro went on to defeat Boca's bitter rivals, River Plate, in the quarter-finals, but they came unstuck in the semi's when they were dumped out by 2020 champions Palmeiras on away goals.

Palmeiras will meet Flamengo in the final at the end of November in an all-Brazilian affair.