When it comes to explaining soccer in this Beginner’s Guide to Argentine Primera División, the league is more complicated than leagues from other parts of the world. Few countries can say that soccer intersects with every facet of daily living like it does in Argentina. “Which club do you support” is the one of the first two questions that is asked by an Argentine when first being introduced. This is asked by everyone from a distant acquaintance to a high-powered executive interviewing a prospective job candidate. Argentines discuss soccer nearly 24 hours each day on television and radio. Even political shows talk a great deal about soccer in their broadcasts.
How influential is soccer in Argentina? Well, for starters the president of the Argentine FA (AFA), Armando “Chiqui” Tapia, is the son-in-law of the most powerful worker’s union leader in Argentina, Hugo Moyano. Moyano also happens to be the president of Independiente. Television mogul and former AFA presidential candidate Marcelo Tinelli has served in various functions at San Lorenzo including vice-president. The most obvious example is that of current Argentine president Mauricio Macri. His “political” career began back in the mid 1990’s when he became the president of Boca Juniors. Even the current Boca president has important ties to the intelligence community in Argentina.
<h3>Beginner’s Guide to Argentine Primera División</h3>
In the US, the English-language TV rights to the Primera Division are currently owned by <a href="https://paramountplus.qflm.net/vnzRry" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Paramount+</a>. The ViacomCBS company acquired the rights in the spring of 2021 and now stream matches through the 2024 campaign.
For Spanish listeners, games can be accessed via the streaming service <a href="https://fanatiz.jbbfvx.net/k3E2d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Fanatiz</a>. This provider offers legal streaming of Primera Division games, including River Plate and Boca Juniors games. Plus, <a href="https://fanatiz.jbbfvx.net/k3E2d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Fanatiz</a> also features the Chilean league and Chilean Cup, among other competitions from the continent.
<h5>Teams to watch</h5>
The two biggest clubs in Argentina are undoubtedly Boca Juniors and River Plate. Combining for 70 titles between the two teams, the next closest club has raised the trophy just 18 times. While Boca Juniors and River Plate are the two dominant teams, other clubs such as Racing, Independiente, Velez Sarsfield, Rosario Central, and San Lorenzo have also enjoyed some success in recent years.
<h5>Format</h5>
After years of format adjustments, particularly the number of clubs in the top flight, the first division now consists of 26 teams. The season typically runs from July/August into the South American summer. Remember, South America has flipped seasons compared to the northern hemisphere.
Much like most countries that play semester-type tournaments, Argentina implemented averages of the last four seasons to determine relegated teams. Here is the formula: Points won divided by matches played equals average.
These teams would be replaced by the champion of the Primera Nacional (second division) and the winner of a single-elimination tournament between teams placed in second to ninth place in the table.
For a more in-depth look at how promotion and relegation works across the soccer world, check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/what-is-promotion-and-relegation-20230205-WST-417286.html">our article on the subject</a>.
<h5>Copa Argentina</h5>
In addition to the league, clubs play the Copa Argentina. This cup tournament returned after two previous editions in 1969 and 1970. This competition started during the Fútbol Para Todos days. Moreover, founders set the goal to reach out to areas that do not have top clubs consistently competing in the region.
The competition begins in February. Typically, matches transpire in a neutral venue. Generally, the last two teams play in the final in late November or early December.
The winner of this competition gets a spot in the Argentine Super Cup where they would face the winner of the league. The second reward that the cup winner obtains is a spot in the Copa Libertadores should they have not already qualified for that competition. In the event that the winning team has already obtained a spot in Copa Libertadores, the runner-up in the competition would then qualify.
If you have any questions about the Beginners Guide to Argentine Primera División, let us know in the comments section below.
READ MORE: <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2021/04/26/name-variations-of-soccer-leagues-cups-and-tournaments/">Name variations of soccer leagues, cups and tournaments</a>
Browse through these beginners guides to the many of the popular soccer leagues:

<h2>Soccer Beginner&apos;s guides</h2>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/beginners-guide-to-soccer-rules/">Beginner&apos;s guide to soccer rules</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/beginners-guide-superliga-argentina/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Argentine Primera División</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/beginners-guide-bundesliga/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Bundesliga</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/beginners-guide-championship/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Championship</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/beginners-guide-champions-league/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Champions League</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/soccer-beginners-guides/copa-america-beginners-guide/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Copa América</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/beginners-guide-premier-league/">Beginner&apos;s guide to English Premier League</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/fa-cup-beginners-guide/">Beginner&apos;s guide to FA Cup</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2020/05/06/beginners-guide-to-koreas-k-league/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Korea&apos;s K League</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/beginners-guide-la-liga/">Beginner&apos;s guide to La Liga</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-beginners-guide/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Serie A</a>



• <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-beginners-guide/">Beginner&apos;s guide to Women&apos;s World Cup</a>



•&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-beginners-guide/">Beginner&apos;s guide to World Cup</a>

Beginner's Guide to Argentine Primera División

View the Beginner's Guide to Argentine Primera División to learn more about one of South America's most entertaining leagues.

Beginner's Guide to Argentine Primera División - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Copa-América-Centenario.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Copa-América-Centenario.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-138558" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20150901_WST_149969_Copa-América-Centenario-600x429.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=429" alt="Copa_America_Centenario_USA_Logo_FC_Dark_bg_cmyk" width="600" height="429" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Copa-América-Centenario-600x429.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Copa-América-Centenario-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Copa-América-Centenario-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Copa-América-Centenario.jpg 1225w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure></div>
CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout&nbsp;has told Argentine radio that the 2016 Copa American Centenario will be played in the United States, potentially providing clarity after months of speculation about the future of South America’s upcoming&nbsp;competition.
In a Tuesday interview, Napout confirmed to AM 950 in Belgrano, Argentina, that the tournament was still scheduled to take place as planned despite doubts which surfaced after spring raids on a Swiss hotel led to the indictments of 14 individuals&nbsp;associated with FIFA, including CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and Costa Rican executive committee member Eduardo Li. Corruption alleged in the FBI’s investigation left the tournament, a cooperative effort between CONMEBOL AND CONCACAF, in doubt.
Napout used Tuesday’s radio interview to confirm CONMEBOL’s plans remain unchanged.
¨We spoke with CONCACAF about the things that were in place for the past few years, that the tournament will take place in&nbsp;the&nbsp;United States and alongside CONCACAF,¨ Napout said, claiming&nbsp;media ooutlets had speculated about alternative scenarios that had not been discussed by the confederation.
¨The most normal thing in football here is to find out through the media about things I didn’t say,” the former Paraguayan federation president explained.
Napout’s response contradicts&nbsp;recent reports in the Argentine press saying the tournament will be moved to Colombia or Ecuador. Chile has also been mentioned as a potential host nation, with AS Chile reporting that the&nbsp;country which&nbsp;put on this summer’s Copa America could host a relocated tournament.
Brazil, originally scheduled to stage&nbsp;the 2015 Copa America, will welcome&nbsp;the 2016 Summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro, leaving the last World Cup host free of Centenario speculation.
“The U.S. is capable of hosting a World Cup tomorrow if they are asked to do it,” said Napout,&nbsp;asked about whether this tournament would change venues.
“We are [in discussions]&nbsp;and there has been a great deal of goodwill shown in order to get things done,” said Napout. “The announcement will be made official soon.”

Conmebol says Copa America Centenario will be played in US - World Soccer Talk

Conmebol says Copa America Centenario will be played in US

<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ricardo-Ferretti.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ricardo-Ferretti.jpg"></a></figure></div>
When Ricardo Ferretti (nicknamed Tuca) was introduced this week as interim coach of the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/category/mexico/">Mexican national team</a>, he put on a display of&nbsp;a mild mannered man. This&nbsp;was not, by any means, the same man that many were accustomed to seeing, the one that berated journalists both on and off the pitch.&nbsp; The man that was being presented to lead El Tri was a man that seemed very reflective and grateful.
He came out to thank his adopted nation that opened its arms to him at the age of 23 when he arrived at Atlas. Although he quickly became a productive player on that 1977 side, it was not enough to prevent them from going down to the second division. It might have seemed like the end for this young midfielder, but it was a new beginning. He would then see success when he headed to Pumas and then would team up with Hugo Sánchez to win the league title in 1981. He also would repeat the feat a decade later.
It was confusing to see Tuca acting so low-key during the press conference. Could it be part of the job conditions that were placed on him to keep it toned down because of his extra-coaching responsibilities? &nbsp;Just a few short days before that, he was attacking the Mexican press during another&nbsp;butting of heads.
This was not distant from the Ricardo Ferretti who&nbsp;was one of Miguel Mejía Barón’s most trusted lieutenants while the latter was coach of the Mexican national team. One thing that Ferretti had over the Club América coach was that he&nbsp;could say he was undefeated as national team boss. Ferretti was given the chance to coach a match as El Tri began their road to the World Cup in the US back in 1993. On that occasion, his squad of alternate players was able to beat a Costa Rica side 2-0 at the Estadio Azul in an encounter that was rather forgettable for collective fans of their beloved Tri.
<div class="ckeditor-em"><iframe loading="lazy" width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com/tracks/219285972&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=true&amp;show_comments=false&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false"></iframe></div>
Approximately two years after his playing career came to an end, the&nbsp;Brazilian-born Ferretti was more Dunga than Sócrates.&nbsp; He was more demolition man than Picasso as a player; yet he was a cult figure of sorts when he made his move to Mexico.
A few years ago, Tuca was asked about the chance of becoming coach of the national team. “If there is a job that I am not interested in, it’s the Mexican national team. If you offer me a job as a street sweeper, I might consider it.”
Those are rather harsh words for a job that he “pseudo-accepted” under certain conditions.
On Monday when he was presented as national team coach,&nbsp; he talked about how his words were a bit too strong in the past.
If you’re not familiar with Ferretti, it’s possible you might confuse him with Miguel Herrera.&nbsp; To be honest, I wouldn’t blame you.&nbsp; He’s an effusive and even volatile coach that will not mince his words even if you might agree with him.&nbsp; He will often curse in press conferences and is unapologetic about it.
Importantly, he’s able to explain what he wants out of his players, and during his nearly three decades in <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/category/mexico/">Mexico</a>, he understands the idiosyncrasy that has been synonymous with Mexican football.
From a tactical standpoint, he’s been extremely criticized for being conservative.&nbsp; No one is going to argue that his teams usually are tactically solid and have few liabilities especially from a defensive standpoint. There is nothing wrong with that. The criticism with his tactical layout is that he has usually fielded some of the most offensively talented sides in Mexican football the past few years, especially as coach of Tigres.
This was the greatest bit of criticism that he received after Tigres’ meek performance against River Plate in the return leg of the Copa Libertadores final.
Four matches will be a small time frame to really give a final verdict as far as to what he can do. Then again, that was pretty much the same thing that we all said then about Víctor Manuel Vucetich, Luis Fernando Tena and the other eight coaches that were national team coaches after Ricardo La Volpe stepped down after 2006.
From a personality standpoint, is he the best person out there?&nbsp; Probably not. Tuca will have to give the&nbsp;players that’ll be taking part in that playoff match in the the Rose Bowl a major sales pitch in order to&nbsp;make sure they’re listening and respecting a caretaker coach.
Ferretti’s usual style is one that will emerge during this time period. His volatile style mixed with the more entitled nucleus of this squad could mix like oil and water. If one were to look at this major clash in approaches, it could be either a great way to see opposites attract or a short-term plan that could flame out in spectacular fashion.
The nucleus of <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/category/mexico/">Mexico</a>‘s squad is also one that offers some dynamic but the well dries up rather quick.
With Ferretti, MLS fans may&nbsp;remember the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal matchup when his Tigres side came into Seattle and decided to drop back after scoring the first goal of the match. That strategy failed miserably as the Sounders stormed back to knock off that squad in a 3-1 scoreline.
This is why if you continue to watch this long-running soap opera, there are things that start to emerge that might not seem so far-fetched. At this stage of the game, you could give the United States a slight advantage over their eternal rivals.

What to expect from Mexico's new coach Ricardo 'Tuca' Ferretti - World Soccer Talk

What to expect from Mexico's new coach Ricardo 'Tuca' Ferretti

<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mexico-team.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mexico-team.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-145751" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20150728_WST_145740_mexico-team-600x386.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=386" alt="mexico-team" width="600" height="386" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/07/mexico-team-600x386.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/07/mexico-team-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/07/mexico-team-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/07/mexico-team.jpg 905w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure></div>
When he was a player, Miguel Herrera’s blonde mullet accentuated his piquant naughtiness, mixed in with a nasty mean streak. He was dogged, hard-working, and one of the peskiest defenders in Mexican soccer during a greater part of the 1990’s. Although diminutive in stature, his intense nature made him a fan favorite. Yet it was his demons emerging from that mean streak that became his eventual downfall.
As a coach, Herrera still exudes that fiery nature but he’s combined it with a quick wit and a jocular personality (as well as&nbsp;an abundance of&nbsp;passion) that made him one of the most beloved individuals in Mexico.
How quickly things change.
Back in April, I had the pleasure of interviewing Miguel Herrera in Mexico City. The scene was perfectly set at the Centro De Alto Rendimiento (Mexican FA’s training ground). At that moment, it seemed that Mexican soccer was in a peaceful place. Everyone was smiling, and Herrera cracked jokes at times while the press laughed in unison, which was&nbsp;strikingly reminiscent to the canned laughs you hear in old sitcoms.
While&nbsp;my conversation was brief, it was still extremely telling in hindsight. One of the questions I asked him was what his&nbsp;“best mistake”&nbsp;was.&nbsp;What I&nbsp;meant by that was a mistake that taught him a great lesson where he ended up benefitting from it in the long term. &nbsp;He candidly spoke about the time he was with Atlante and that infamous fight he had prior to the World Cup.
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="480" src="https:\/\/www.youtube.com/embed/Vgwk9J5xpu8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
That same fight was that one that virtually ended his international career. He told me that fight taught him to control his emotions and not allow them to get the best of him. He remembered that incident vividly and told me how it marked him as a player. It would be that fight that many would revisit after this latest scandal that could cost him his job.
Our conversation was brief as he was quickly whisked away in order to speak to various sponsors present. He would then join a US-based radio program, then he got ready to attend an event near the Zona Rosa in Mexico City where the most popular wax museum in the capital was ready to unveil a statue of the Mexican national team coach. He was on top of the world.
Excesses are usually not a good thing. Wherever he went, he was asked for. Whoever asked for him, he tended to them in a gracious manner. In the end, that attitude, in addition to his commercial and coaching obligations, took a toll.
This type of accessibility was praised highly by the Mexican press. Why? Well, he was the antithesis of of Nestor De La Torre’s drier and even less sociable demeanor.
Through all the praise that Herrera won&nbsp;from the media on both sides of the border, he did lose touch with a very harsh reality of Mexican soccer. When scrutiny came along, the popularity became taxing and his sense of infallibility became greater.
Herrera talked about not calling up players “for the sake of taking them away from the US” and “Mexico had 90 players” he could choose from to make a callup list. He was taken to task quickly. In retrospect, that was one of the first moments when you had an indication that the tide was turning against&nbsp;Herrera.
He then talked about there not being a Mexican A or B team for two tournaments this summer. A few weeks later, he gave the guarantee that Mexico would be playing in&nbsp;the final of <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015-copa-america/">Copa América</a>. Unfortunately for Herrera, Mexico came up&nbsp;short as El Tri were knocked out of the group stage for a second consecutive tournament.
Those performances in Copa America saw him arrive to the Gold Cup with tremendous pressure on his shoulders. It was a win-at-all-costs attitude that the Mexican had and their form did not help at all. Their form was accentuated by the team’s behavior after matches when they did not address the media and Herrera’s demeanor turning combative with the Mexican press.
But it would be his non-football related attitudes that would start to truly begin to signal the downfall. For example, his tweets where he supported a political party during the elections in Mexico.
Yet through all the obstacles Herrera experienced this summer, the writing was slowly written on that proverbial wall. &nbsp;Tinkering with players, playing them out of position combined with the team’s overall sluggish play (sans favorable calls) had “El Piojo” within the cross hairs of the media. The problem was, he constantly fired back.
These actions lead to the decline of his popularity and possibly his demise as coach.
When it was least expected, Herrera’s&nbsp;demons that harmed his playing career struck again. This time it was TV Azteca commentator Christian Martinoli who would be on the opposite side.
Herrera and Martinoli had their spats on social media and bumped heads on various occasions based on disagreements in the recent past. Yet all of this escalated when Herrera threatened the journalist by allegedly saying that “they would meet in an airport” and they would “settle things.” No one would have imagined that resolution would be achieved by hitting anyone in the back of the neck or shoving someone in an airport line.
What does the future have in store for Herrera? We’ll see what the verdict will be after the coach meets with officials later this morning. As of right now, the talk is that Miguel Herrera will become the fifth coach in less than two years to coach El Tri.
There is only one thing that a person has to know about this topic. Herrera violated Article 3 of the FeMexFut code of ethics.
<blockquote>“Any person that holds a position or fulfills an activity directly or indirectly related to FMF and federated football, adheres to the principles and obligations within the current Code of Ethics, therefore, cannot argue lack of knowledge or non-existence of judicial interest as a defense adopting beginning or commencement of activities, with dignified conduct, authentic and integral that will avoid infringing on the principles within this Code.”</blockquote>
Just like in any other profession, violations of ethic codes are sanctionable with termination. Unlike any other job, though, few come with the demands of Miguel Herrera’s.
After this last fiasco within the Mexican national team, it doesn’t only show that Miguel Herrera was consumed by a job that crushed four coaches that preceded him in the span of a month.
It will probably be the last piece of&nbsp;business that the lame duck president Justino Compean makes before leaving on Saturday due to “<a href="http:\/\/www.goal.com/en-us/news/1616/concacaf/2015/05/26/12099682/concacaf-watch-power-staying-in-same-hands">personal reasons</a>,” or as many would call it “the ghosts of FIFAGate creeping in”.
There have been several reports saying that Herrera would be sacked by today,&nbsp;although there has been an incredible amount of silence within the federation. It’s quite worrying for a federation that finds itself mired in controversy after winning a title in such a dubious manner while all of CONCACAF is still feeling the effects of the FBI investigation. Now the question is who will do the sacking? Will it be Compean or will it be incoming president Decio De María?
At this point, the CONCACAF playoff in October between Mexico and the United States is the least of Mexico’s&nbsp;worries. Herrera accomplished his objective of winning the Gold Cup. But the&nbsp;most ironic part is that he has only had a few hours to celebrate before facing the sack for <a href="http:\/\/noticias.univision.com/video/623167/2015-07-28/edicion-nocturna/videos/hija-del-piojo-tambien-agredio-a-comentarista/embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his behavior in the airport</a> and not the results on the pitch. Those demons, once again, got the best of him.
&nbsp;

Miguel Herrera’s demons have him on precipice of being sacked - World Soccer Talk

Miguel Herrera’s demons have him on precipice of being sacked

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/07/dan-flynn-sunil-gulati.jpg"></a>
I’m always surprised when I hear stories about how some people never knew that their closest friends were involved in corruption.&nbsp; In the modern world, let’s forget about soccer for a second, how can you NOT know <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/07/07/what-did-mls-and-us-soccer-know-about-traffic-and-concacafs-improprieties/">something is going on right next to you</a> with the amount of information that is available to us all?
After it was revealed&nbsp;that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/06/04/years-of-blazer-corruption-raises-serious-questions-for-american-soccer-by-simon-evans/">Chuck Blazer made&nbsp;corrupt deals on American soil</a>&nbsp;for more than a decade, did many in the media here in the US decide to go silent&nbsp;or take a more nonchalant role in investigating the connection with US soccer?&nbsp; Sure, they did.&nbsp; Why? There were many things going on in the sports calendar, no doubt. Yet it was a story that was pertinent to what was going on in FIFA. But&nbsp;more attention should have been paid to it, not brushed aside the way it was by many.
In Wednesday’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/07/15/watch-the-us-senate-hearing-on-corruption-in-international-soccer-video/">US Senate panel hearing on&nbsp;corruption in soccer</a>, some of the Spanish-language US media outlets such as&nbsp;ESPN Deportes played excerpts of the hearing and discussed what went on.&nbsp; Some went as far as saying that ‘it might not be a lot, but it is a first step.’ &nbsp;It did leave US Soccer (especially Sunil Gulati) in a negative light within the international community because of the monk-like silence he has decided to take on throughout this entire ordeal.
During the US Senate panel hearing, US Soccer Federation CEO Dan Flynn said, “I was aware of some level of discomfort but it was all a general feeling. So, I had no hard evidence and we wanted to continue to participate in trying to influence (FIFA) as one of 209 members.”
However, Flynn later conceded that USSF decided to play ball with the likes of Blazer and Warner rather than follow-up on what was causing the “level of discomfort” because “we had other things to do to help build our sport.”
SEE MORE — <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/07/16/the-reaction-from-us-soccer-media-to-us-senate-hearing-on-corruption-in-soccer/">The reaction from US soccer media to US Senate hearing on corruption in soccer</a>.
While many in English were already nominating Sunil Gulati for canonization and propping him up as the next president of FIFA after the DOJ and FBI did all of the hard work to begin prosecuting corrupt CONCACAF and FIFA officials, there were some that asked the big question: “How did Gulati&nbsp;not know about Chuck Blazer and Jeffrey Webb and Eduardo Li?” These were individuals that he fraternized&nbsp;with at the Paradise Island hotel in the Bahamas back in April.
People forget that CONCACAF was a united front.&nbsp; Every member of CONCACAF voted UNANIMOUSLY for Jeffrey Webb to continue his tenure as leader of a “reformed” federation.
International publications such as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.marca.com/2015/07/16/futbol/futbol_internacional/estados_unidos/1437066208.html">Marca</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/10/fifa-us-senate-hearing-jerry-moran">The Guardian</a>&nbsp;weighed in on these topics, and even the highly-rated Jorge Ramos show on ESPN Deportes spoke extensively about the issues.&nbsp; So, the belief that some elements of the press have not been&nbsp;“caring” or “brushing it aside” is not true.&nbsp; Truth be told, a hearing where no one was subpoenaed or sworn in takes a bit out of this all.&nbsp; Yet seeing Dan Flynn squirm like a kid that didn’t study for a pop quiz said volumes.
It’s quite amazing that Gulati, an executive committee member, did not know that money for the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.concacaf.com/article/webb-attends-official-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-fifas-goal-project-ii-in-st-kitts-and-nevis" target="_blank">Goal Project</a>&nbsp;has gone missing in various parts of CONCACAF.&nbsp; It was amazing to know that someone so high up in the spheres of power at an organization has absolutely no clue as to what is going on around him.
SEE MORE —&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/07/16/choice-quotes-from-us-senate-panel-hearing-into-soccer-corruption/">Choice quotes from US Senate panel hearing into soccer corruption</a>.
Investigative reporter Andrew Jennings said his piece, albeit in interrupted fashion.&nbsp; He <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/07/16/choice-quotes-from-us-senate-panel-hearing-into-soccer-corruption/">hit some points</a>, but he just enjoyed being in front of the mic and wanted to be the star.&nbsp; Unfortunately, for him he wasn’t granted the spotlight he so direly longed for.
That spotlight went to Dan Flynn.&nbsp; He pretty much put himself in the hole from the get go. His contradictions were prevalent from the beginning.&nbsp; He went from not knowing anything about corruption to feeling “discomfort” about what was going on in CONCACAF elections where Jack Warner asked for “sealed votes.” &nbsp;If he was so uncomfortable, then why didn’t he&nbsp;file a complaint or do something about it?
The way the FIFA culture works is that it’s focused on cooperation and enabling (looking the other way).&nbsp; Ask individuals like former CONCACAF senior vice-president <a href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Something-smells-fishy-in-CONCACAF_9026336" target="_blank">Lyle Austin</a> or longtime head of the St. Kitts and Nevis FA <a href="http://www.bigsoccer.com/blog/2010/02/13/gulati-hah-when-you-want-a-rigged-election-ask-jack-warner" target="_blank">Peter Jenkins</a> as to what happens when you don’t follow the script.
Going back to the US Senate panel hearing for a minute, do these politicians care about soccer&nbsp;in this country in the grand scheme of things? I could probably count more people that consider underwater basketweaving as a source of employment.
Is the Senate going to be the answer to clean up the sport’s organizing body?&nbsp; Well, we saw how effective the government was in getting steroids out of baseball.&nbsp; Let’s be honest, the only reason the US government got involved was because of CONCACAF’s brashness in using banks here for their activities. That, and not paying taxes, are going to whip up the most ire from Uncle Sam.
The amounts of money moved around made American politicians realize it’s big business. Is it part of a political charade? Maybe.&nbsp; It doesn’t take much to appease constituents when it comes to these types of issues, especially when the Iran deal and Greece’s austerity package are still dominating news cycles on and off of Capitol Hill.
There have been some wonderful stories that have emerged because of the rapid evolution of soccer&nbsp;in this country. Everything from the national team to the players that leave it all out on the pitch in the domestic leagues, to the fans, make the US such a great story.&nbsp; They make you crack a smile because you remember the days when the mainstream in the US featured&nbsp;soccer as the butt of all jokes.
I am not writing this to make you think anyone is guilty of anything. That road is still a long one and there will probably be other names that fall sooner rather than later. I am writing this to make you think. A great part of this country’s media failed in stimulating you into doing exactly that. That is where “we,” and I include myself, have come up short.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; As Senator Blumenthal said the “<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/07/16/choice-quotes-from-us-senate-panel-hearing-into-soccer-corruption/#j53D4ACoMh66ZoWw.99">silence is deafening, and sometimes inaction signals complicity</a>.” Our omission shows exactly that.
To what extent, well, that question has to be answered by all of us because we’ve failed the people that look to us to inform them, not tell them that all is good. &nbsp;Those same people that are looking to be informed are the number one reason why the sport has grown and they deserve that more than anyone else.
&nbsp;

US Soccer’s prior knowledge of FIFA’s criminal wrongdoing raises more questions than answers

US Soccer's prior knowledge of FIFA's criminal wrongdoing raises more questions than answers - World Soccer Talk

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-110749" title="david-ospina" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140721_CMS_110747_david-ospina_c5e4389b.webp&amp;width=640&amp;height=381" alt="" width="640" height="381" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052123/David-Ospina.jpg 640w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052123/David-Ospina-150x99.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052123/David-Ospina-300x199.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052123/David-Ospina.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></figure>
Arsenal are close to a deal to sign Colombia national team goalkeeper David Ospina from French club Nice. The club president of the Nice team, Jean-Pierre Rivère,&nbsp;revealed, “There is still no agreement, but we are not far.” But if and when a deal is reached, what can we expect from Ospina?
When 17-year-old Ospina put on his gloves for the first time in a top flight match, there were nerves. Yet the casual fan or pundit would have never noticed.&nbsp; In front of him was the most daunting task of his career, debuting in a packed house for one of the biggest clubs in Colombian football with Atlético Nacional, to start out a season.
For the Medellín native, he got to see his club win league titles from the bench but he knew that the chance was there to do great things and the enormous responsibility of being in goal where players like Miguel Calero and René Higuita had soared to tremendous heights at the continental level in years past was relished more than feared.
Ospina would help Nacional in 2007 become the first team to win the league title in back-to-back semesters since the inception of that format back in 2002.&nbsp; His saves were spectacular as were his clashes in the area with any carbon-based object lurking in his box. Overall, the young goalkeeper showed why he was the goalkeeper of the future as the previous generation, with names like Oscar Córdoba, Faryd Mondragón and Agustín Julio, were near the end of their soccer careers.
Just a few months after his success with Nacional, he was called up for the Colombian national team. By the time 2010 rolled around, he established himself as the undisputed number one for Colombia.&nbsp; By that time the eyes of various teams from Italy, Spain and England were inquiring about his services after two excellent seasons at Ligue 1 side Nice.
The 2011 Copa América was where he was supposed to emerge and become one of the best players at his position. Unfortunately an untimely challenge by former Wigan and U-20 teammate Hugo Rodallega ended his participation in the tournament before it even began.&nbsp; Yet that did not deter him from his eventual goal.
His potential contributions to Arsenal
I’ve seen and heard Arsenal fans cringe the past few seasons ever since Jens Lehmann departed off into the sunset from his goalkeeping position.
The list of keepers that have come like Wojciech Szczęsny, Lucasz Fabianski, Vito Mannone and Manuel Almunia did not inspire a great deal of confidence in Gunners fans.&nbsp; As a matter of fact, Alex Manninger, Stuart Taylor and Vince Bartram didn’t inspire the confidence at Highbury in the post-David Seaman era either before Lehmann asserted himself when he returned in 2011.
Some of these goalkeepers have shown flashes of quality, but their erratic play at times has seen that position on the squad become a revolving door of sorts. That is until Szczęsny saw Fabianski leave for Swansea City and Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano did not see action at all during his short time as a Gunner.
Ospina comes in with a completely different pedigree. When Szczesny was just starting as a youth player, Ospina was already gaining experience as a backup and eventually a starter with Atlético Nacional in Colombia.&nbsp; He was talked about by many as a goalkeeper with potential and he showed it at times as a 16-17 year-old etching his place on a professional club.&nbsp; Yet it was his mental strength and maturity that made European sides take notice of what he could offer.
Former Köln and Philadelphia Union shot stopper Faryd Mondragón talked about the fact that the man in front of him on the national team before his retirement was going to be there for a long time.
Right now, Ospina’s skill set is probably the most well-rounded you will see in European soccer. His qualities are well documented – quickness, ability to cut off angles, and vision.&nbsp; Yet it is the work that he has done in the past few years to improve certain deficiencies in his game that are what make him such an interesting long-term project for Arséne Wenger, who saw him up close in Brazil just a few short weeks ago.
<blockquote> “With David, (Colombia) have a goalkeeper for a log time.&nbsp; He is very disciplined in goal.&nbsp; He’s a modern goalkeeper, can stop shots, cut angles very well and makes big saves in crucial situations.&nbsp; I like his style.”
– Faryd Mondragón</blockquote>
Ospina has also shown promise when it comes to using his feet and being able to organize and distribute the ball t0 his teammates. There might be a bit of an issue with the language, but it’s doubtful as he does speak French and Spanish, so from that perspective his bases are covered.
As a younger goalkeeper, Ospina was always a heart attack waiting to happen when he was coming out for crosses. Either he’d misplay the ball or would get smashed by another player (friend or foe) in the process. Ever since he arrived at Nice in Ligue Un, that part of his game improved exponentially.
Being at a club like Atlético Nacional as well as part of the Colombian U-20 team back in 2005 was also a tremendous learning experience. That club, according to many, was one of the best youth sides that Colombia ever had if you start to look at the names. Radamel Falcao García, Camilo Zúñiga, Abel Aguilar, Fredy Guarín, Carlos Valdés, Cristián Zapata, as well as David, were part of the 2010 World Cup side in Brazil. Edwin Valencia was on the World Cup side until an injury forced him out of the squad.&nbsp; Ospina was the youngest player on that squad at 16, albeit he was a backup to Libis Arenas in that tournament.
<blockquote> “He’s a very young goalkeeper but with excellent skill set. I wish him the best.”-
 Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo</blockquote>
The experience he gained throughout his career helped him become one of the most solid South American goalkeepers of the past few years.&nbsp; It was an easy choice for many to see that Ospina was the most consistent keepers in the last South American World Cup qualifiers. He was also one of the players in his position that were able to shine the brightest in one of the highest scoring World Cups ever.
Yet, the most important observation that needs to be made is his contribution to help keep Nice afloat in Ligue 1 the past few years. Claude Puel’s side was one of the youngest sides in the league and had the worst offensive output as well. Despite these numbers, Ospina was amongst the best in the league.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.ftbl.com/leagues/goalkeepers.aspx?leagueid=16">He was fourth in goals against average (0.86) and tied for third in clean sheets with 13 alongside Monaco’s Danijel Subasic</a>.
There is no doubt in the minds of many that Ospina could be the starter at Arsenal sooner rather than later. If that does indeed occur, the question will not be when will Szczesny get a start.&nbsp; The question will be is which goalkeeper will be the one that can inherit Ospina’s position in the years to come. Until now, he will have to prove himself once more, like he did when he first started.

If He Joins Arsenal, What to Expect From Goalkeeper David Ospina

If He Joins Arsenal, What to Expect From Goalkeeper David Ospina - World Soccer Talk

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-110684" title="Juan Román Riquelme" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140719_CMS_110673_Juan-Román-Riquelme_84493411.webp&amp;width=624&amp;height=351" alt="" width="624" height="351" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052158/Juan-Rom%C3%A1n-Riquelme.jpg 624w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052158/Juan-Rom%C3%A1n-Riquelme-150x84.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052158/Juan-Rom%C3%A1n-Riquelme-300x168.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/07/17052158/Juan-Rom%C3%A1n-Riquelme-600x337.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px"></figure>
Juan Román Riquelme was always a personality that intrigued many in the soccer world.&nbsp; His unparalleled skill and penchant to virtually will the ball wherever he wanted made him such an attractive footballer to watch on any pitch he played on throughout his career.
In the next few days, when Riquelme is presented on the same Argentinos Juniors&nbsp;pitch where it all began as a young kid, many will look at what happened to his legacy at Boca and how it all turned sour.
Even as a player that was coming out of the streets of San Fernando over in northern Greater Buenos Aires, he was one of the young and up and coming players in youth football by the time he turned 13.&nbsp; That potential, unharnessed artistry, was beginning to be molded at the same place where a footballing demigod did just two decades before.&nbsp; La Paternal was the place where Riquelme would start to be talked about by many and it would be a move to Boca would be in the cards for him and his destiny would take that turn to greatness. But at times, his success ended up dividing opinions in Argentina.
Since his debut as a 17-year-old kid at La Bombonera, he was able to captivate the imagination of a fanbase and a footballing nation whenever he was able to conjure up his magic.&nbsp; Still if his style of play was engaging and able to seduce millions, his personality was often dry and even divisive.
His attitude was not the best one as Riquelme was often at odds with most coaches that he was under. He was at odds with Manuel Pellegrini at Villarreal, putting president Fernando Roig in a position where he backed the coach and left his biggest star out in the cold.
The same happened with Julio César Falcioni, when he chose to make the player more important that the squad.&nbsp; The night before the Copa Libertadores final against Corinthians, Riquelme came out and said he was leaving the Xeneize because he had ¨nothing left¨ to give to Boca.&nbsp; It was only after Carlos Bianchi returned for a third stint at the club that Riquelme’s tank of giving seemed full once again. &nbsp;That was only after the fans at La Bombonera gave their final verdict in a stadium that resembled a Roman coliseum and the 55 thousand-plus fans gave their collective thumbs down to the coach that just a year ago led them on the second longest unbeaten streak and the second unbeaten league title in history.
During that time, Falcioni and Riquelme fell out. The most telling moment was when the team was on the plane coming home from Venezuela and the two started to jaw at each other.&nbsp; Riquelme immediately called out Falcioni and his tactica, virtually taking away his authority within the club.&nbsp; What ensued was a year filled with finals appearances, finals losses and the ghost of Riquelme looming over a coach that was in no position to bargain. While Riquelme hung out with his friends and had a good time watching Boca struggle from afar, Falcioni’s shoulders felt the weight of obligation, which was too much for him.
Ironically, when Bianchi had him back, the player decided not to go to pre-season.&nbsp;Instead he made his decision to return to Boca when pre-season was about to come to an end.
Riquelme made the club jump through an endless amount of hoops in an effort to negotiate his continuity in La Boca.&nbsp; There were some truly unrealistic things that he was asking for in his new contract.&nbsp; The first one was a long-term deal.&nbsp; That to a 36-year-old player that missed half of his matches in the past six years, was beyond insane.&nbsp; Add to that the fact that the player was asking for a salary of US$1.25 million was even wilder in an Argentine league that is stretched to the max from an economic standpoint.
What makes this story even wilder is that Riquelme was asking for the club to pay his salary based on the “blue dollar” exchange rate.&nbsp; This is what is also a byproduct of the current situation in Argentina.&nbsp; The official exchange rate between the dollar and the peso as of the time of this article being published <a href="http://www.apple.com">was at $8.15 while the unofficial, or blue dollar, is at about $12.25</a>. If you multiply it, the difference in money was significant in pesos — which was what club president Daniel Angelici was mentioning since the first day and that the team’s economic sacrifices were tremendous when they offered the Boca idol a contract “no one in Argentina could offer.”&nbsp; Still was all for naught.&nbsp; At one point Riquelme might as well just asked for a gazillion dollars and the response would have been the same. Boca took Riquelme’s offer as rhetorical. He just threw out a number as well as a set of conditions that he knew the club would not accept.
For many that have seen Riquelme, it was just another pretense to be able to miss pre-season once again. This is why Boca were fed up. “The club is biggest than its idols, its board directors and its coaches, ” said Angelici when talking about the negotiations between both parties collapsed.
At that stage on Wednesday, it was quite apparent that Riquelme was on his way out.
While this was going on, Riquelme would go on television anytime he wanted to continue saying that the club did not show any love for him and the most important thing in his career was Boca and that the money was not that important.
Now Riquelme is going “home”.&nbsp; Argentinos Juniors will now become the most interesting team in the Nacional B – the Argentine second division.&nbsp; Their short quest has them poised to be looking to earn promotion into the wacky 30-plus team tournament that will be the first division when it begins next year.
On Sunday, a new era of soccer begins in two Buenos Aires neighborhoods. Boca will have to endure life without Riquelme, which is a big weight to get off your chest. Ironically in the last two league titles that Boca won, Riquelme’s role was reduced. In 2008, he was looking to return to Argentina, while in 2011 the club played some dominating football en route to their second undefeated title in short tournaments.
Meanwhile, Argentinos will look to shift the focus of attention away from president Luis Segura.&nbsp; Segura was under a great deal of fire after he was one of the AFA officials mentioned in the World Cup’s biggest story off the pitch of the last two weeks – the issue of ticket resales in Brazil. For Argentinos, the deflection of that bit of controversy will also be aided by the reinforcing of the defense and midfield with great cast players.&nbsp; Some, in the case of Matías Caruzzo, look to return to the club to be able to redeem themselves.
In the end, Riquelme agreed to similar terms that he had at Boca with Argentinos.&nbsp; That just further proves the mutual disdain Boca and their great idol had towards each at this stage of the proceedings.&nbsp; So much was their dislike for one another that Carlos Bianchi was not able to be an influencing factor in keeping him in La Boca for at least 18 months.
Maybe some will say that he will look to prove them wrong, like he did the night of his famous celebration in the direction of Mauricio Macri when he criticized him about his imminent move to Barcelona.&nbsp; The response was etched in Boca lore forever.
<a href="http://youtu.be/72WHiLEnvPg">http://youtu.be/72WHiLEnvPg</a>
Román will look to many mouths, especially Daniel Angelici’s. The Boca president might have cost himself a chance to be re-elected after this whole negotiation was botched by the club. At this stage, Angelici’s administration will be known forever as the one that let Riquelme go — although some might say that Angelici and company were the ones that pushed Riquelme out the door to show that they had the power ultimately.
In the end, they will see that the one that had the true power is going to be wearing red.&nbsp; Meanwhile the “powerful one” showed once more that his pride surpasses even his playing ability. One thing is for sure, we better get ready for Sunday. Riquelme will not pull any punches and he will tell you so, in third person.

Juan Riquelme: The Enigma, The Idol and Prodigal Son Returns to Argentinos Juniors

Juan Riquelme: The Enigma, The Idol and Prodigal Son Returns to Argentinos Juniors - World Soccer Talk

The #1 Source for Soccer TV Schedules, Streaming Links, Cord Cutting Reviews, Soccer News and Interviews With Broadcasters.

Lawrence Cohen

latest articles by Lawrence Cohen

News

Beginner's Guide to Argentine Primera División

Copa America

Conmebol says Copa America Centenario will be played in US

Leagues: Liga MX

What to expect from Mexico's new coach Ricardo 'Tuca' Ferretti

Gold Cup

Miguel Herrera’s demons have him on precipice of being sacked

News

US Soccer’s prior knowledge of FIFA’s criminal wrongdoing raises more questions than answers

News

If He Joins Arsenal, What to Expect From Goalkeeper David Ospina

News

Juan Riquelme: The Enigma, The Idol and Prodigal Son Returns to Argentinos Juniors