Superliga to restart January 24 after vote

The margin of victory was exceptionally tight, Noticias Argentinas reported, with the motion carried by just one vote. Some clubs had been seeking a delay to the season’s restart, with a number of their players set to be missing on international duty.

Argentina’s national under-23 side will be in action in Colombia from January 18 to February 9, with the Albiceleste facing the hosts, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela in a key qualifying tournament for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Amid the dispute, a row erupted between the Superliga’s authorities and Argentine football’s governing body, AFA, with both sides criticising the other for their take on the ‘club v country’ row.

New Boca Juniors coach Miguel Ángel Russo said Friday that the decision was “not ideal” for clubs but that it “changes nothing,” adding that all teams have had the same amount of days to prepare.

Speaking Thursday, the Superliga’s president, Mariano Elizondo, confirmed that officials were investigating demand for international broadcast rights for the league.

““We always try to generate more resources for our clubs. When we started two years ago, we didn’t even have sponsors, and today there are 12,” he said.

Elizondo said broadcast rights for Argentine top-flight football had never gone out to tender on international markets and that officials were keen to gauge the level of interest.

Some reports on Friday said the league had asked interested parties to pay US$5,000 to receive a bid package, including terms and conditions, with bidding open from January 10.

“The international rights for Argentine football have never gone out to tender, it is the first time,” said Elizondo.

According to Diario Popular, the Superliga is seeking to bring in around US$15 million a year through international broadcast rights and “other commercial” ventures.