December 7 – Argentina’s 1978 World Cup-winning captain Daniel Passarella (pictured) was today elected president of River Plate after winning an election that was overshadowed by allegations of fraud and corruption.
Passarella, 56, will succeed Jose Maria Aguilar in the club’s top job from next week after winning a tight election race involving five candidates.
He was declared River Plate’s new president by a difference of only six votes, after his campaign group reported fraud and urged authorities for a votes re-count that ended finally at 2.17am in Buenos Aires.
The first count indicated candidate Rodolfo D’Onofrio was the winner by a two votes difference over Passarella, who played 258 games for River and scored 99 goals in two spells at the club and also managed the club twice.
But a recount was ordered after Passarella’s supporters alleged that there been irregularities during the election process.
They claimed ballots with the name ‘Frassarella’ on to confuse Passarella voters whom a first glance could have not distinguished the misspelling that would lead to a null vote.
After the recount of the 14,237 votes, Passarella was declared the narrow winner.
He said: ”The people voted for change and showed this in the ballot.
“It was an historic vote because River’s supporters showed their greatness once again with their commitment.”
River, one of Argentina’s biggest clubs, are currently in the midst of one of their worst slumps, languishing in the bottom half of the Apertura championship.