The Argentine Football Association (AFA) decided this Thursday to consecrate Central Rosary as champion of the Professional League 2025after reforming its regulations. The recognition is based on the fact that the Rosario team added 66 points in the annual table, a product of his campaign in the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, a figure that placed him four units above Boca Juniors.
The measure was validated by the AFA Executive Committee, headed by Claudio Tapia, and it took place in a meeting in Puerto Madero where, in addition to presenting the trophy, it was decided suspend the International Super Cupa tournament that historically pitted the leader of the annual table against the winner of the Champions Trophy.
For Rosario Central, it was a symbolic closing of the year: the president of the club, Gonzalo Bellosothanked during the official ceremony and highlighted that the new title “adds to the plan” that includes Apertura, Closing and the Champions Trophy. For his part, the coach Ariel Holan and references like Jorge Broun and Ángel Di María were present to receive the recognition.
However, the announcement generated a wave of controversy and criticism in different sectors of Argentine football. First of all, because the title was not provided for in the initial regulations of the LPF for 2025: Until now only three official trophies were contemplated (Opening, Closing and Champions Trophy). Many detractors accuse the AFA of having changed the rules “mid-season” to favor the Rosario club, setting a dangerously subjective precedent.
“Beyond Central’s merits this year, which are unobjectionable, it is not reasonable to create an official title in the middle of a competition. It goes against the value of each star,” said the sports journalist. Angela Lerena in X. For its part, Gustavo Noriega He highlighted: “The level of arbitrariness in Argentine soccer is breaking records. They are going to end up determining 30 champions per year.” Even the show’s chroniclers joined the complaint, Augusto Tartufoli posted: “Seeing what happened to Chiqui Tapia, don’t ever complain about the Martín Fierro family again, friends.”
On social networks, Thomas Rebord He added: “My son literally steps on Rosario and they invent a title for Central so it is impossible.” “On Saturday, Estudiantes plays against the administrative champion, Rosario Central, to try to advance to the next phase and become a sports champion. Would something like that be like this? All my respect and admiration for El Canalla, an extraordinary club, but they should not have accepted such an invention. It is an assault on reason. And on healthy competition. They emerged champion of a Cup that no one knew was at stake. In the bagging competitions of the holiday camp they were not so encouraged,” said Esteban Trebucq in his account on the exTwitter.
Furthermore, there are those who point out that the new title dilutes the importance of other championships and opens the door to a proliferation of “institutional cups” that, in their view, detract from competitive value. It is also controversial that the International Super Cup has been suppressed precisely to give rise to this award, which for critics suggests that the decision not only responds to celebrating “regularity”, but also to a reconfiguration of the calendar and the symbolic power of Argentine football.
In the press and networks, there is also discomfort due to the way in which the coronation was communicated: there was no traditional celebration on a field, but rather a more institutional delivery in AFA offices, which for some makes the achievement less epic. In short, Central celebrates its recognition as champion of the 2025 League for being the most regular throughout the year, but the controversy lies in the fact that this title was created by the leaders on the fly, generating questions about institutional transparency and the real value of the call.
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