Argentine football "entered a new chapter of chaos and counterclaim" on Monday as the "widening divisions" among the Argentine FA’s Exec Board "erupted out into the open once more," according to the BUENOS AIRES HERALD. A "crucial meeting" ended in recess, with the bosses of Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo and Racing Club "on the verge of resigning their posts on the board, in a row over the potential establishment" of a "Super League" and the redrawing of the AFA’s statutes. With Luis Segura acting as interim president after the death of Julio Grondona and a "crucial election for president scheduled for June 30," the future of the AFA is "on the table, with two clear sides forming." One, pushing for the Super League, is made up of Daniel Angelici (Boca), Rodolfo D’Onofrio (River), Víctor Blanco (Racing) and Matías Lammens (San Lorenzo). On the other side of the table is Independiente, whose president is union leader Hugo Moyano, and the "lower division clubs represented by Claudio Tapia are lining up against the project, arguing that this kind of tournament will only serve to benefit the big clubs." Second-tier side Villa Dalmine VP Jorge Milano said, "Boca and River want to be Real Madrid and Barcelona of Argentina. They say they have the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of the domestic league and that they generate big incomes, but the truth is that the Argentine league is not prepared for the Superliga." The rumor of Angelici, D’Onofrio and Lammens’ resignations began after the meeting with La Liga President Javier Tebas, who came to Buenos Aires to explain to the officials "the organization" of La Liga, a format that a group of clubs wants "to repeat in Argentina." The AFA's Exec Board "could not discuss the Superliga issue due to lack of quorum." The clubs that support the new format wanted to call an Extraordinary Assembly meeting for June 2 "to approve the Superliga before the AFA presidential election." The other group, led by Moyano, "wants to take the decision after the elections which is why they left the AFA facilities in Ezeiza before the meeting and did not give quorum." So, Angelici (AFA Secretary), D’Onofrio (First VP), Lammens (Treasurer) and Blanco (National Teams Secretary) submitted their resignations to AFA Exec Board, looking to "leave AFA leaderless." But that strategy "was not successful as president Segura rejected the resignations and established a recess at the assembly to continue the negotiations" (BUENOS AIRES HERALD, 5/17).
KEYS TO THE CONFLICT: OLÉ reported the fight "is a power struggle that has various key points."
1. After "35 years led by Grondona, the AFA has collapsed and is in debt." Boca, River, Racing and San Lorenzo "are convinced that this should be changed now."
2. The "small clubs do not want to leave this model in which they have revenue, and more importantly, power." They have the support of Moyano.
3. The "four big clubs -- led by Angelici, a friend of Argentine President Mauricio Macri -- have the backing of the Argentine government," which supports the Super League.
4. The Super League's money would be "distributed differently." Of the total, 10% would go to the AFA, 10% to the second tier and 80% to the first division.
5. One "has to take into account the the changes by leaders on both sides: Angelici, for example, was previously with Segura and Moyano." Now "he leads the Super League project with others who were previously on the other side" (OLÉ, 5/16).
INFANTINO ADDRESSES ISSUE: In Madrid, Verónica Brunati reported Macri called FIFA President Gianni Infantino "to ask about the consequence of state intervention in the AFA." Infantino indicated that neither FIFA nor CONMEBOL would punish the Argentine national team if the government intervenes, as it "would be considered 'administrative intervention' to reorganize Argentine football" (AS, 5/17). In Buenos Aires, Facundo De Palma reported Tebas said, "There were problems with the Exec Committee, but I believe change is possible. If not, it would mean a bad future for Argentine football. ... For years, Argentine football has gone against the current. There are 70 leagues in the world and Argentina, which should be among the top seven in development -- I don't know what place it is in -- is going to miss a train it will not be able to board" (CLARÍN, 5/17).
