On Saturday, Federico Sturzenegger, the Minister of Deregulation and State Modernization, discussed the Argentine Football Association’s (AFA) stance against accepting clubs with a corporate structure in their competitions, labeling AFA’s leadership as a “caste.” He also stated that if the entity led by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia opposes the participation of Sports Corporations (SAD) in AFA tournaments, it would be breaking the law.
“It’s very strange because the proposal made by the Executive does not force anything on anyone. It’s astonishing how people fear freedom. The Executive Decree says that society will have more freedom to choose the corporate structure, entirely at the discretion and will of the members. I wonder why we fear freedom,” the official said in a radio interview.
This week, after the National Government indicated via the Official Gazette that clubs could opt to become SAD, the AFA convened to express that it was not against this change but clarified that teams converting to SAD would not be allowed to compete in their tournaments.
This doesn’t sit well with authoritarian figures
The practice of professional and critical journalism is a cornerstone of democracy, which is why it bothers those who believe they are the sole arbiters of truth.
Tapia, who had not spoken until Friday, posted on X: “In the AFA, only non-profit civil associations. We met with the Executive Committee of the @afa and the @LigaAFA in Ezeiza to clarify the invariability of the Statutes in the face of SAD.” Subsequently, the AFA issued a statement detailing their position.
“We are not forcing anyone to do anything. What is surprising is that the organization itself says ‘I don’t want others to be free’ because this is an agenda of freedom. In Spain, they faced such a dramatic situation with their clubs that they were forced to become Sociedades Anónimas (SA), and the only exception made was for four clubs to remain non-profit. I’m puzzled by why we fear others being able to choose freely,” Sturzenegger elaborated.
He also pointed out that the national football governing body would be violating a law by not allowing private clubs to compete. “The AFA would be breaking the law. There’s a law, the sports law, that specifies what types of associations can participate. Whether or not the AFA has amended its statutes, the law only gave a year to adjust the statutes. The law is still in force,” he stated during a dialogue with Radio Mitre.
SAD: The chat circulating among football executives and AFA’s order to stay silent
In another part of the conversation, Sturzenegger referred to the “caste” within the AFA, reiterating President Javier Milei’s criticisms. “There are democratic processes, but the case of SAD is an interesting example because it showcases how a system – what the president would call a caste – opposes the freedom of its participants. It’s very symbolic of how Argentines have been scared of what freedom can achieve. When freedom operates freely within an economic system, it doesn’t harm others but rather benefits them,” he said. He also noted that the influx of private capital would add value to local football: “This approach has been adopted by many countries worldwide, and we aim to improve the quality of sports in Argentina, attract investments, and make football a more global brand. The reforms are for the people’s benefit, not against anyone.”
An opinion poll surveyed attitudes towards SAD
The consulting firm Zuban Córdoba provided a preview of its upcoming survey, highlighting public opinion on SAD. The survey asked, “How much do you agree with the following policy proposed by Milei’s government: converting football clubs, currently non-profit civil associations, into sports corporations (SAD)?” Here, 39.7% were “strongly against,” while 28.4% said they were “strongly in favor.”
When combining the “against” and “in favor” groups, the figures show that 53% oppose SAD, while 42% support it, with 4.9% undecided.
The government is also seeking public support for SAD. According to Rosario Ayerdi in PERFIL, Milei contacted Sergio “Kun” Agüero to assure him that the libertarian administration supports the Argentine national team, following comments that led to Julio Garro’s expulsion from the government. Agüero, who has become a businessman and streamer with millions of social media followers since retiring, voiced his support for SAD on Friday and suggested that the AFA’s opposition is due to “self-serving interests.” “What’s the matter? Are they scared? Are they terrified? What’s going on? They’re scared because of self-serving interests,” he remarked.
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