By David Gold
May 10 – Argentina has overhauled its league system and will return to having a single champion each season for the first time since 1991.
The decision was made and announced by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) Executive Committee, who met in Buenos Aires to discuss the change.
Currently, Argentina has an Apertura and Clausura system, producing two separate champions per season.
This is a common system across the continent, with other Spanish speaking South American nations playing in this way.
The new league structure will continue to be divided into two with an “Inicial” and “Final” stage, but the two winners will compete in a grand final to determine the league’s champions at a neutral venue.
The two champions per season system was useful for both large and occassionally for small clubs in Argentina.
It meant that the likes of Boca Juniors (pictured top) and River Plate (pictured above) could increase the number of championships they won more quickly, but also enabled smaller teams, such as Lanus in 2007, to have a better chance of glory over the shorter campaign.
Perhaps more intriguing than the change to the league’s structure, though, is the abolition of play offs which decide relegation and promotion from Argentina’s Primera División.
The system, where teams with the worst points averages over three seasons go down and under which River Plate were relegated last year, will stay, but without the play off.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734829441labto1734829441ofdlr1734829441owedi1734829441sni@d1734829441log.d1734829441ivad1734829441
Related stories
February 2012: FIFA warns Argentina over plans to rename league after General Belgrano