Marcos Rojo sees red as ex-Man Utd team-mate Andreas Pereira facing six-game ban

Marcos Rojo and ex- Manchester United team-mate Andreas Pereira are both facing bans from their exploits on and off the pitch, respectively, in South America.

Pereira, who left the Red Devils during the summer transfer window to sign for Brazilian side Flamengo on loan, is facing a six-match suspension after allegedly breaching Covid-19 quarantine protocol.

Rojo, meanwhile, was sent off for two yellow cards in as many minutes inside the opening quarter of an hour as Boca Juniors faced River Plate in the Superclasico in Argentina on Sunday.

The 31-year-old arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon under Louis van Gaal following the 2014 World Cup but struggled to nail down a place at United over the proceedings years and departed on a permanent basis in February.

Pereira is facing a potential six-match ban for allegedly breaching Covid-19 quarantine rules ( Image:

REUTERS)

Pereira has also failed to truly establish himself since breaking into the first-team fold in 2015, although was given regular game time by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before the signing for Bruno Fernandes.

But unlike Rojo, his ban is not definite, following a hot-headed and brief outing in the Argentine derby match.

After just 15 minutes, he clattered into opposing striker Braian Romero and less than a minute later, the defender bundled into Agustin Palavecino as the River's chief creator received the ball from a throw-in.

The referee sent him for an early bath before Boca were beaten and left to languish nine points and eight places behind their age-old rivals in the table before the international break.

Rojo saw red after just 15 minutes as Boca Juniors lost the Superclasico to rivals River Plate ( Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

There was further controversy in the Superclasico as Argentine officials are set to investigate attendance numbers at the match.

Local media questioned whether the amount of people inside the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires exceeded those permitted under coronavirus guidelines.

Supporters returned to grounds in Argentina on Friday but only those who had received at least one dose of the vaccine were allowed to attend games, with the maximum capacity limited to 50%.

A judicial official told Reuters that an investigation would be launched because the reported attendance figures were between 53,000 and 57,000 - considerably more than the 35,000 allowed in the 70,000-seater stadium.

Pereira, though, could face a longer suspension and Brazil's Superior Sports Court for Football has summoned the 25-year-old to decide to his fate, potentially handing him a ban of up to six games.

This is due to the midfielder allegedly not self-isolating for long enough upon his arrival to his native country, with current legislation in Brazil stating that all people travelling there from the United Kingdom must self-isolate for 14 days when entering as opposed to his reported seven.

It is the same quarantined-related issue which Argentina's Premier League players faced when attempting to play Brazil last month in a World Cup qualifier that was abandoned after health officials stormed the pitch.

An official statement read: "Flamengo and Andreas Pereira will be judged next Friday, October 8, by the Fifth Disciplinary Committee of the Superior Court of Sports Justice for Football.

"The club has been charged for having ended halfway before the mandatory 14-day quarantine period established by ANVISA Ordinance 655/2021 for travellers passing through the United Kingdom."

On the pitch, Pereira has started brightly back in Brazil, registering two goals in five Serie A (not to be confused with the Italian top flight) appearances.

He scored in Flamengo's 3-0 win against Atletico Paranaense on Sunday after spending last season on loan at Lazio in one of his four temporary moves away from Manchester.