The Argentine Football Association decided to postpone indefinitely the start of the football season. The decision is the result of clubs' massive debts to the tax authorities and their own players. The Apertura season was scheduled to start on 14 August but Julio Grondona, the President of the Argentine Football Association, stated that unless the situation is resolved by August 11th, the Apertura will be suspended indefinitely.

A total of 21 clubs, including the country's most famous teams - Boca Juniors and River Plate, fight debt and the amount of money owed is huge. Rumors say that football clubs owe the government $78.43 million and seven of the most important clubs (River Plate, Independiente, Racing, San Lorenzo, Rosario Central, Newell’s and Huracán) owe nearly $30 million to their respective players.

Clubs used to sell players abroad to pay their debs so a bad money management and the world economic crisis contributed creating the worst economic crisis in Argentina’s football league since the player’s strike of 2001.

The football crisis affects the second division as well. Two weeks ago Argentine Football Association postponed the season in the second division and regional games for the same reasons.

Argentine Football Association represented by Grondona tried to squeeze more money from cable television providers increasing fees for the right to air matches but they didn’t reach any agreement because TV companies accepted only to extent the contract from 2014 to 2020 and advance payments to clubs.

The participation of the Argentinean teams in the Copa Sudamericana, which will start soon will not be affected by the current situation. Neither the Argentine national team coached by Diego Maradona which has scheduled a friendly in Moskow against Russia for August 12.

All parties implicated are now discussing and try to resolve de problem as soon as possible so the season could start.