BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina football team directors on Tuesday ratified a decision to delay to the start of the first-division season due to financial problems facing some top clubs.
“The available resources cannot meet expenses. … The situation is very difficult,” Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine Football Association, said after the AFA’s executive committee unanimously approved pushing the start back from Aug. 14.
A new start date has not been given.
The announcement came after efforts by Grondona to secure more financing fell through. Negotiations on raising fees for TV rights have been frozen, and the government of President Cristina Fernandez has declined to allow Internet betting, which is currently illegal.
The AFA announced last week that a postponement was likely — including lower leagues — after a players union listed seven top clubs with debts totaling $10 million: San Lorenzo, River Plate, Independiente, Newell’s, Huracan, Racing Club and Rosario Central.
The global economic crisis has hurt Argentine clubs, which depend heavily on large player transfer fees from rich European clubs in England, Spain, Italy and Germany.
