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The Argentine Football Association (AFA) released a statement yesterday to clarify misunderstandings stirred by certain media outlets regarding a new regulation from the General Inspectorate of Justice (IGJ). This regulation, effective November 1, 2024, allows civil associations, such as football clubs in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, to become corporations or partner with them.
“The changes imposed by the local authority of Buenos Aires do not affect nor obligate any modifications to the AFA’s social statute. It remains a mandatory requirement to be a non-profit civil association to be a member of the AFA,” the statement emphasized.
Furthermore, the AFA pointed out, “This is a good opportunity to clarify that neither AFA nor its member entities are opposed to the so-called SAD (Sports Public Limited Companies) nor to any civil association (club, regardless of activity) freely deciding on their legal structure. However, the AFA and its member entities firmly oppose—because it is blatantly unconstitutional—forcing any private entity (including the AFA and any civil association) to incorporate entities with a different legal structure that contradicts their statutes as established by their members.”
This stance does not sit well with authoritarian figures.
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The practice of professional and critical journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy, which is why it irritates those who believe they possess the absolute truth.
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This point was corroborated by federal court, mentioned in the statement that the Federal Court of Mercedes suspended certain articles of Decree 70/2023. These articles prohibited sports organizations from discriminating based on legal structure and mandated adapting their statutes to this decree.
Additionally, the Provincial Directorate of Legal Entities nullified an assembly of the José Hernández Social and Sports Promotion Center, which attempted to transform it into a sports public limited company. This action highlighted the significant cultural and social role of clubs as civil associations.
The intense conflict between the Government and the AFA over Sports Public Limited Companies is reaching its peak.
Last week, Milei posted on social media criticizing what he perceives as the lack of competitiveness at the club level and some “authoritarianism” from the organization led by Chiqui Tapia.
Milei leaned on his campaign slogans, talking about “rackets” within the AFA and dreaming of an open regimen that encourages a wave of investments.
Boosted by the enactment of the Basic Law, a regulation was published this week in the Official Gazette, allowing civil associations to transform into SADs with the General Inspectorate of Justice’s approval.
Thus, the AFA reacted and issued the statement to clarify the situation. However, it is clear that the battle is far from over and will have many more rounds.
