Football
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Boca Juniors-Rosario Central referees suspended for dubious Cup calls

#INSERT type:image caption:Boca Juniors players celebrate after winning the Copa Argentina. END#

Argentina Football Federation president Luis Segura on Thursday suspended referees Diego Ceballos and assistant referee Marcelo Aumente following questionable calls in the Copa Argentina final between Boca Juniors and Rosario Central.

Boca Juniors, who on Sunday won the Argentine league, beat Rosario Central 2-0 in the final.

"The president of the Argentina Football Association, Mr. Luis Segura, has decided to put referee Mr. Diego Ceballos and the assistant referee Mr. Marcelo Aumente on leave for an indetermined amount of time," AFA said in a news release. 

Earlier, AFA had announced that Patricio Loustau would replace Ceballos for Friday's match between Lanus and Sarmiento de Junin, for the final date of the Primera Division.

Ceballos ruled three key decisions in favour of Boca Juniors, the first, a decision to disallow a Marco Ruben header for offside some 10 minutes before halftime.  The goal would have given Rosario the lead.

The second came seven minutes into the second half, when Boca right back Gino Peruzzi made a forward break, and was brought down by opposing left back Paulo Ferrari. The foul took place some distance outside the area. But Ceballos pointed to the spot, and Nico Lodeiro calmly slotted home the penalty.

The third came in the final minute when Boca's Marcelo Meli cut through the left side of the Central defence and squared for substitute Andres Chavez to tap in -- but Chavez was offside. His was missed by Aumente, the very same linesman who had spotted Central Larrondo offside by maybe an inch in the first half.

AFA's decision marks the first time in league history that the federation has suspended a referee for a questionable call.

Guillermo Marconi, who heads up Argentina's referee syndicate (SADRA) had earlier tapped Mariano Gonzalez to replace Ceballos for Friday's match but Loustau, who is from the Argentina Referee's Association (AAA), was eventually designated.

Ceballos, who is also from the AAA, was questioned by Marconi and Marconi was also critical of the federation's director of officials, Miguel Scime. 

The decision to put Ceballos on leave was announced before Ceballos was informed and Ceballos made the trip from Cordoba to Buenos Aires for the Lanus match before we was informed. 

Segura said the federation will review its protocol of assigning and evaluating referees. 

Speaking to reporters afterward, Rosario coach Eduardo Coudet said: "It's tough when they [officials] get it wrong like that in a final because we worked hard all year to get here.

"It really hurts. We didn't lose the final -- they took it away from us."

But Boca forward Carlos Tevez said: "Boca were the right winners. There was a lot of talking during the week, and I think we showed why we're the champions of everything."

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