From professionalism to ARCA: strikes that shaped Argentine football | OneFootball

Throughout its history, Argentine football has experienced various stoppages. From the foundational movement of 1931 that ushered in professionalism, to the recent suspension of activities announced this Monday—defined as a ‘lock out’—in retaliation for what club officials describe as a “persecution” by the National Government through the tax agency ARCA.

If we analyze the five major historical ruptures, a clear pattern emerges: the clash of interests, the fight for labor rights, and the lack of payments. However, the current scenario presents a singularity: the entire industry is uniting to protest against an external factor, the pressures from Javier Milei’s administration against the AFA.

1. 1931: The End of the ‘Lock Law’ and the Birth of Professionalism

The first major milestone occurred when footballers rebelled against the ‘Lock Law’, which prohibited them from transferring without the approval of their original club. Under a “brown amateurism” (informal payments without rights), players demanded legal contracts. Faced with the refusal of the Asociación Amateur Argentina de Football (AAAF), the conflict led to a mass exodus to the Liga Argentina de Football (LAF), founded on May 18, 1931 by the 18 largest clubs. That schism marked the beginning of the professional championship on May 31 of that year.

2. 1948-49: The ‘Great Strike’ and the Mass Exodus

Led by the newly formed Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados (FAA) and figures like Oscar Basso, this protest sought union recognition and the elimination of the “right of retention.” The strike paralyzed football for months and posed a challenge to the government of Juan Domingo Perón. The lack of agreement caused stars like Alfredo Di Stéfano and Adolfo Pedernera to emigrate to Colombia. Despite the loss of talent, the movement established the FAA as a central political player.

3. 1971: The Player Statute as a Banner

Under the leadership of José Omar Pastoriza, footballers began a strike on November 4, 1971 to be legally recognized as workers with pension rights. In the midst of Alejandro Lanusse’s dictatorship, the union achieved a historic political victory: the enactment of Law 20,160 in 1973, which established the Statute of the Professional Football Player, a legal framework that remains in force today.

4. 1984-85: The Ruggeri-Gareca Case and Freedom of Action

Boca Juniors’ economic crisis in the mid-80s triggered a traumatic conflict. Oscar Ruggeri and Ricardo Gareca, after two years without a contract, demanded their freedom of action. The FAA declared a general strike in January 1985 in solidarity. To break the deadlock, an unprecedented deal was brokered by the AFA: the players moved to River Plate in exchange for $400,000 and the transfer of Carlos Tapia and Julio Olarticoechea to the Ribera club.

5. 2017: 80 Days of Paralysis Due to Unpaid Wages

The most recent precedent occurred in 2017, when football was halted for almost three months. The financial crisis, worsened by the termination of the “Fútbol para Todos” program and an AFA under FIFA intervention, left squads with up to five months of unpaid wages. Although the State injected 350 million pesos, Sergio Marchi’s union held its position until full payment was guaranteed. Activity resumed on March 9 after intense negotiations at the Ministry of Labor.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.