Flamengo Challenges Libertadores Elimination Following Loss to Estudiantes

Flamengo has formally petitioned the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to challenge their elimination from the Copa Libertadores, which occurred on Thursday following a penalty shootout loss to Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata. The Brazilian club alleges that Estudiantes fielded defender Marcos Rojo irregularly during the second leg of the semifinal at the Maracanã stadium.

The match concluded in a scoreless draw after regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout that ended 3-2 in favor of the visitors. Estudiantes goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was the decisive figure in the encounter, successfully saving penalty attempts from Jorginho, Lucas Paquetá, and Bruno Henrique. The Argentine side managed to secure the victory despite playing with ten men for much of the second half following the expulsion of Baltasar Rodríguez.

At the heart of the dispute is the registration status of Marcos Rojo. Estudiantes had initially been denied the right to register the defender by CONMEBOL, as the organization determined the move did not meet the specific regulatory criteria for replacing an injured player. However, the Argentine club successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which granted a provisional measure allowing Rojo to participate in the match.

Flamengo argues that the authorization granted by the CAS was strictly temporary and did not constitute a final ruling on the player's eligibility. The club is requesting that CONMEBOL open a disciplinary process to investigate the matter. Under the official disciplinary code, a finding of irregular player usage can result in a 3-0 forfeit, along with potential fines and further sanctions.

The elimination has drawn significant international attention, with media outlets noting the disparity in investment between the two clubs. Flamengo, which holds one of the most expensive rosters in the Americas, failed to score across both legs of the semifinal series. The result has increased pressure on manager Leonardo Jardim, who must now refocus his squad on the domestic league, where they currently hold a narrow one-point lead over Palmeiras.

Estudiantes is scheduled to face Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores final on November 28 at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay. While the legal challenge proceeds, the Argentine club maintains its spot in the final. CONMEBOL is expected to allow Estudiantes the opportunity to submit a formal defense before reaching a decision on the validity of the match result.