Argentina’s Apertura will kick off on Friday after a one-week postponement.
In early August the Argentine Football Association (AFA) threw out its former television package because of the carrier’s refusal to pay an increased fee. Instead, it looked to the government for a bailout, and was rewarded with a deal on Tuesday. Matches will be shown on non-cable channels and will be available to viewers for free.
The agreement marks Argentine president Christina Fernandez’ latest incursion into the private sector. And as it happens, the AFA’s former television parters, TSC and Clarin, operate a newspaper that frequently criticizes her government.
The television conundrum, however, is only half of the problem facing Argentine soccer at the moment. Many of the country’s top clubs, including Independiente, Racing and River Plate, have amassed large debts, many of it owed to players.
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