AFA still to resolve Bauza exit while hunting cash to land Sampaoli
ERIC WEIL in BUENOS AIRES: All last week, the Argentinian football association’s president, Carlos Tapia talked about meeting national team coach Edgardo Bauza, but never did.
Now Bauza’s representaves are waiting to meet Tapia who says the decision has been taken but has not officially revealed what it is.
It is all a matter of finance. The main candidate to take over as coach of the national team, who are struggling in the South American World Cup qualifying group, is Chilean Jorge Sampaoli. However, obtaining his release from Spain’s Sevilla would cost the AFA €1.5m and he wants a contract until the World Cup in 2022.
To cancel Bauza’s contract would cost $900,000 and a meeting this week with his representative might be to get him to reduce the amount.
The AFA still owes previous coach Gerardo Martino a similar sum as he was never paid and his lawyer has come to an agreement with the AFA. But Martino’s coaching staff is suing the AFA for $3m.
Where can all that money come from?
Also mentioned as a posible coach, but not officially, is Carlos Bilardo under whom the World Cup was won in 1986. He was a good leader and managed the players well.
On the dame theme Racing Club’s former coach, Facundo Sava is suing the club for 8.60 million pesos to pay the rest of his contract when he was dismissed.
Racing have said the courts must decide we know what that means with a friendly judge who may even be a Racing fan.
The so-called Super League will be played from July until June next year with 28 clubs with four being relegated and two promoted to cut back to 20 clubs.
Marcelo Tinelli, the main candidate to take charge of it, says it will bring in more money for clubs, but they will also have to show accounts with those who lose money having to accept the consequences though these are unexplained.
Television companies Fox and Turner, which won the contract to televise league matches, were due to pay 400 million pesos this week and 1,12 million before May 5 and during the competition 2,900 million in 12 instalments.
While it is due to be decided, 78pc of the money will go to the Super League (which is being held outside the AFA) and 28pc to the AFA. The televising of matches is expected to be better but it will not be free anymore.
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