Under Tapia’s watch: Anacleto emerges as new SADs ally | OneFootball

The latest meeting of the Executive Committee of the Professional Football League (LPF) not only served to reschedule the calendar in light of the Argentine football strike, but also became the stage for the emergence of a figure who promises to stir up the institutional waters: Carlos Anacleto. The president of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata has positioned himself, alongside Juan Sebastián Verón, as one of the main advocates for the introduction of Sports Corporations (SAD) in the country, although his strategy has generated more rejection than support in the corridors of Viamonte Street.

The “ghost project” and the clash with Claudio Tapia

During the league conclave, Anacleto tried to introduce what he described as an “innovative” and “mixed” model, inspired by the German club system. However, according to Doble Amarilla, the leader from La Plata did not present any written proposal, nor did he make a concrete motion before the plenary. His intervention, lasting only a few seconds, was interpreted by his peers as an attempt to “stake a media position” rather than an institutional one.

The response from Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, president of the AFA, was curt and by the book: any reform proposal must be worked on, written, and formally submitted for analysis in the relevant committees before being debated. The discontent among the leadership deepened hours later, when the supposed “innovative” scheme was leaked to the press. In several AFA offices, this leak is seen as an irresponsible and political move, suggesting that Anacleto is acting under orders from the National Government to force a discussion that the AFA’s statutes currently prohibit.

The Foster Gillett precedent and the “seduction operation”

Anacleto’s relationship with private capital is neither new nor coincidental. He was responsible for bringing Federico Sturzenegger to the Bosque’s VIP box and for opening the doors of Estancia Chica to the controversial businessman Foster Gillett. Although these dealings were initially kept under wraps—especially after Gillett’s failed attempt with Estudiantes—Anacleto recently confirmed them: “It’s true that Foster came. And others as well. We need to send a signal so that investors say: ‘This club wants to change.’”

For the “tripero” president, the club must conduct a “scan” of its own infrastructure and political security to become attractive to external capital. This vision has led him to propose a structural reform of Gimnasia’s statutes, specifically aiming to eliminate article 2 bis, the clause that currently prevents total or partial management of professional and amateur football within the institution.

The “mirror” of the classic rival and the institutional contradiction

One of the points that causes the most stir in the Gimnasia community is Anacleto’s open admiration for the management model of Estudiantes de La Plata. In statements that are almost unheard of for a leader of his rank, he said: “I have many friends at Estudiantes… we have to take positive things from them. Let’s be clear: they are doing things better than we are.”

This stance places Gimnasia, one of the most traditional institutions and defenders of the club’s social role, at a historic crossroads. Its president publicly promotes an agenda of openness to management and rapprochement with private models, while within the decision-making bodies of Argentine football, he does not (or does not attempt to) support his proposals with the technical formality required for a change of such magnitude.

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