Head of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) Claudio Tapia once again referred to the wave of criticism, questions and conflicts that Argentine football is going through, defending his continuity at the head of the organization and relatively accusations of mismanagement.
During a recent speech at the Leadership Council, Tapia said: “This is not the first time we have seen this. There have been three presidents in just the nine years I have been president, and I still have many more years to go.”
With this statement, the captain sought to place the current criticism in the context of a long history of institutional ups and downs in the Argentine Football Association, hinting that this type of crisis is not an exceptional event but part of the usual development of Argentine football.
Tapia also defended his management and the leadership structure he heads, with the following message: “The struggles come from within, not from without. Here we all know that there are many things to improve, but we also know that the only ones who give Argentine football real value are the players, coaches and captains who make an effort to form competitive teams and leagues where everyone has the same potential.”
Then, in an apparent reference to President Pincha, the current president of the Argentine Football Association pointed out: “There are those who forget that two days before they played Paracas Central and were outside the mini-team. Because Huracan and Belgrano did not win, they qualified and have the possibility of fighting in the championship. This is Argentine football.”
Tapia said: “We have to work together to deliver better football. Communication continues, players play, coaches guide, and we are leaders correct mistakes. Outsiders do not vote for me, the leaders of Argentine football vote for me.”