The president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, stated that he has 'many more years' left in his position, amidst criticism of his management. Undoubtedly, the last two weeks in Argentine football have seen a surge in criticism towards Claudio Tapia, who began his tenure in 2017. Controversies in the promotion playoff zone of the Primera Nacional, similar situations in the Professional League, and an absurd championship title awarded to Rosario Central in the AFA offices have once again put Tapia under scrutiny. On Wednesday at the Alumni Awards, as reported by the Argentine News Agency, the AFA president declared: 'This is not the first time we have experienced this. Three presidents have changed in almost 9 years during my time leading Argentine football, and I have many more years to go. Do not doubt that when my term expires, those who wish to will have the opportunity to run. The struggles come from within, not from the outside; the discussions take place from within, as they should, face to face.' 'Here we all know that there are many things to improve, but we also know that the only ones who give Argentine football what it truly has value are the players, the coaches, the football leaders who make an effort to form competitive teams, competitive tournaments where everyone has the same opportunity,' he added. Furthermore, to applause from his peers, Tapia concluded by pointing to the president of Estudiantes de La Plata, Juan Sebastián Verón: 'There are some who perhaps forget that they played two days before Barracas Central and were outside the playoff zone, and because Huracán and Belgrano de Córdoba did not win, they qualified and today have the chance to fight for the tournament'.
