Radio Gol
·27 Maret 2026
Argentine football chief questions River over AFA snub: “Fight from within”

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·27 Maret 2026

Nicolás Russo, president of Lanús, said he does not agree with the Millionaire’s withdrawal from the Executive Committee.
Weeks ago, River shook up Argentine football by announcing that it would no longer take part in the Executive Committee meetings of the Argentine Football Association. After the strong reaction caused by the Millionaire’s statement, Nicolás Russo responded.
Speaking to TyC Sports, the Lanús president was asked about the decision made by the Millionaire’s authorities and added: “I don’t think it’s wrong to disagree with the leadership. What I do think is not right is that you are not properly representing your club’s members.”
“You have to go to the Committee meetings, you have to argue, you have to take part, you also have to go to Conmebol. A club like River and others. You can’t leave those seats empty. Those seats must be filled, and the fight has to come from within. That’s what should be done,” said the executive, concluding: “I understand the position, I don’t share it.”
In light of the information that has emerged in recent hours, Club Atlético River Plate wishes to make clear to its members, supporters, and the entire sports community its relationship with the Argentine Football Association.
Since 2013, River Plate has maintained a clear view of the direction football in our country should take. In that regard, the Club has consistently promoted, among other things, the need to consolidate a professional competition with a 20-team tournament, accompanied by the generation of resources that would allow growth for all the clubs that make up our football.
Likewise, River Plate reaffirms its historic defense of the non-profit civil association model and, at the same time, expresses its recognition of the Argentine Football Association for defending the current social security contribution system for the activity.
River Plate deeply believes in the harmonious functioning of institutions and in the value of collective bodies in decision-making. Nevertheless, it understands that under the current operation of the Executive Committee, there are not enough procedural guarantees to ensure a clear and predictable decision-making process within that body.
Our institution believes that discussions about the future of Argentine football must take place through clear and predictable procedures: with the topics included on the agenda sufficiently in advance and submitted to a vote by the corresponding members. On repeated occasions, the operating dynamic observed has not reflected those mechanisms, resulting in processes that are less clear than those to which River Plate is accustomed in the functioning of its own Board of Directors.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.









































