BUENOS AIRES, July 10 (FIFA) - The president of the Argentinian Football Association, Julio Grondona, has asked FIFA chief Sepp Blatter not to authorise the transfer of any player from clubs in Argentina to Europe until a crisis with contracts is resolved.
Grondona's comments come in the wake of the transfer saga involving former Boca Juniors midfielder Sebastian Nayar, who was presented as a Recreativo Huelva player on Friday, despite the fact that Boca claim the midfielder is still under contract with them.
Under AFA regulations, when the contract of a player comes to an end, there is an automatic two-year extension with the player receiving a 20% pay rise.
However, that rule does not appear in FIFA regulations, meaning as far as Recreativo are concerned the 20-year-old's deal with Boca ended on June 30 and the extension that the Argentinian club believe has come into effect is not valid and illegal.
Grondona believes that clubs, players and agents are taking advantage of this discrepancy in the rules in order to orchestrate big-money moves to Europe, and has asked FIFA for their support in the matter.
"This is a conflict caused by crafty people. There are a lot of people who want to earn money by doing nothing," Grondona told Ole newspaper.
"I've talked to Blatter about this and asked him not to allow any player to move and not to make any decision until I arrive in Beijing (for a FIFA meeting during the Olympic Games).
"We must find a global, definitive solution because players go to Europe only because they are better paid than here."
Grondona argued that the sale of Argentina's top young players to Europe was the only way clubs in the country could make money, and therefore situations such as that of Nayar are threatening the existence of Argentinian clubs.
"European football is based on shows and broadcasts, while we are committed to the formation of players. That is the main capital of Argentinian clubs because we know sooner or later they will emigrate," he continued.
"However, strange things are happening here and some people are robbing our clubs to take the players. There are a lot of crafty people who only want to earn money."
A meeting of Argentinian club presidents is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the AFA head offices where Grondona is set to propose a solution to the problem.
He said: "On Tuesday we will have an important reunion with the union of players to see if we can update the agreement (on the 20% pay rise).
"Argentinian clubs should sign a contract with players until the age of 25 and then they would become free agents and do what they want, but we have to change the working agreement."
Under AFA regulations, when the contract of a player comes to an end, there is an automatic two-year extension with the player receiving a 20% pay rise.
However, that rule does not appear in FIFA regulations, meaning as far as Recreativo are concerned the 20-year-old's deal with Boca ended on June 30 and the extension that the Argentinian club believe has come into effect is not valid and illegal.
Grondona believes that clubs, players and agents are taking advantage of this discrepancy in the rules in order to orchestrate big-money moves to Europe, and has asked FIFA for their support in the matter.
"This is a conflict caused by crafty people. There are a lot of people who want to earn money by doing nothing," Grondona told Ole newspaper.
"I've talked to Blatter about this and asked him not to allow any player to move and not to make any decision until I arrive in Beijing (for a FIFA meeting during the Olympic Games).
"We must find a global, definitive solution because players go to Europe only because they are better paid than here."
Grondona argued that the sale of Argentina's top young players to Europe was the only way clubs in the country could make money, and therefore situations such as that of Nayar are threatening the existence of Argentinian clubs.
"European football is based on shows and broadcasts, while we are committed to the formation of players. That is the main capital of Argentinian clubs because we know sooner or later they will emigrate," he continued.
"However, strange things are happening here and some people are robbing our clubs to take the players. There are a lot of crafty people who only want to earn money."
A meeting of Argentinian club presidents is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the AFA head offices where Grondona is set to propose a solution to the problem.
He said: "On Tuesday we will have an important reunion with the union of players to see if we can update the agreement (on the 20% pay rise).
"Argentinian clubs should sign a contract with players until the age of 25 and then they would become free agents and do what they want, but we have to change the working agreement."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Morocco blazing a trail for Arab women's football participation
FIFA blasted for OneLove armband threat
