Football: Argentine FA shelves controversial plan

BUENOS AIRES: The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has backed down on a much-criticised plan to fuse the first and second divisions into a 38-team national championship from next year. “The AFA has resolved to suspend consideration of the proposal,” said the sport’s national governing body. The idea came under heavy criticism and was seen as a ruse to get relegated giants River Plate back into the top flight and also ensure other big teams did not risk dropping into the second division.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2011.