Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Crisis ridden Argentina football association (AFA) were mired in more scandal Friday as Olympic coach Julio Olarticoechea revealed he hasn’t been paid, forcing his wife to borrow money from the couple’s daughter.
Argentina crashed out of the Olympics at the group stages on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw with Honduras.
The two-time gold medallists’ chances were hampered by a choatic preparation with Olarticoechea, who had been in charge of the Argentine women’s team, put in charge at the last minute when Gerardo Martino resigned in July.
“My wife called me and said he is borrowing money from my daughter, who is a top pastry chef and makes good money,” said Olarticoechea.
“She told me to speak with the directors, that we need money. I am borrowing money from my daughter! It is to cry about, but it is the reality.”
AFA is currently in the hands of a temporary normalising committee appointed by FIFA after being decimated by corruption allegations and rows over TV rights.
Olarticoechea, who was reduced to tears after the draw with Honduras, had been the only coach contracted to the federation after Martino and his staff resigned.
“This (elimination) has to show us once and for all that things need to be organised for the professionalism football demands of you,” added Olarticoechea, who played alongside Diego Maradona in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup winning team.
“I have no doubts AFA has hit rock bottom.”
In brighter news for Argentina, new coach Edgardo Bauza said Thursday he is confident five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi will reverse his decision to retire from international football in time for September’s World Cup qualifiers.
Messi shockingly retired after missing a penalty in a shootout loss to Chile in the Copa America Centenario in June – Argentina’s third major final defeat in three years.
Bauza announces his squad for qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela later on Friday.
