Former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo was known for his aggressive style of play at Old Trafford and things boiled over during a recent match in Argentina
AVELLANEDA, ARGENTINA - APRIL 12: Referee Sebastian Zunino shows a red card to Marcos Rojo of Racing Club during a Torneo Apertura 2026 match between Racing Club and River Plate at Presidente Peron Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Avellaneda, Argentina. (Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)
Marcos Rojo was shown a straight red card(Image: Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United star Marcos Rojo has been handed a four-game ban following his ugly confrontation with a referee after he slapped an opponent. Rojo 36, was shown a straight red card during Racing Club's clash with River Plate in Argentina's Liga Profesional on Sunday.
The defender had slapped River's Lucas Martinez Quarta in the face at a corner, giving Sebastian Zunino no choice but to give him his marching orders following a VAR check. Rojo responded angrily, appearing to launch a barrage of abuse towards Zunino.
His reaction has resulted in a four-game ban which could spell the end of his career with Racing Club, as he's out of contract in June. Rojo has now been sent off twice in 15 games since he joined the Avellaneda-based side from Boca Juniors last summer.
The Argentine had been given a yellow card earlier in the match which River won 2-0. United fans won't be surprised to hear about Rojo's behaviour, as he was known for his aggressive style of play while at Old Trafford.
Although the ex-Sporting Lisbon man was remarkably never sent off for United, he was involved in plenty of hairy incidents. Team-mate Luke Shaw even joked that players would avoid him in training because of his studs-up challenges.
After being signed for £16million in the summer of 2014, Rojo helped United win three trophies - the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League. After six-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, the latter of which were plagued by injuries, Rojo left the Red Devils to join Boca for an undisclosed fee.
AVELLANEDA, ARGENTINA - APRIL 12: Marcos Rojo of Racing Club argues with referee Sebastian Zunino during a Torneo Apertura Mercado Libre 2026 match between Racing Club and River Plate at Presidente Peron Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Avellaneda, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
Marcos Rojo shouted in the referee's face(Image: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
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But the 36-year-old departed with a bitter taste in his mouth. In 2023, Rojo accused ex-United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of only starting Harry Maguire instead of him because of the centre-back's £80m price tag.
"That year [2019], I was doing really well in England, I was playing in the Europa League," Rojo is quoted as saying by ESPN. "I was really angry with the coach. Maguire was playing, now thanks to God, they dropped him and Licha [Lisandro] Martinez is playing.
"One day I went to his office to tell him to let me leave or put me in (the starting line-up). He knew that it was wrong that I wasn't playing all the time.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero and Antonio Valencia of Manchester United celebrate in the dressing room with the FA Cup trophy after The Emirates FA Cup final match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on May 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Marcos Rojo was part of Manchester United's FA Cup-winning team(Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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"He told me that they had paid so much for him that he had to play no matter what. And I would tell him, 'Let me play because this guy is making huge mistakes every Sunday'."