Part one:
Hello?
Yes, Barack Obama please?
Oh, hello Mr President, I am calling to ask you a favour, please hear my story:
This whole thing started back in 1979, where in my country began a period of tyranny, corruption and oppression and that is still going on today.
No Sir, I am not calling you from Iraq, Iran or Syria. I am calling you from Argentina.
What is that you are saying, sir? That what I am telling you is history now? That the Dictators stood down in 1983? That we have had 10 heads of State since 1979 (obviously without counting the interim ones)?
No, no Mr Obama, I am talking about the AFA (Argentinean Football Asociation). I am talking about Julio Humberto Grondona who has been running our football (soccer) since 1979.
I see, I understand what you say. That it is not your jurisdiction as AFA is a democratic institution where the authorities are voted by its members.
That it may be, Sir, but if we comapare it with your country for a second…..
Good call Mr President, nobody will ever be able to be re-elected and govern for 32 years. Not only because the constitution does not allow it, but also because every so often, new people bring new ideas and also as you are saying, it sounds suspicious that nobody seems to even nominate themselves as an alternative to the presidency.
But you are also right when you say that if the members keep voting for him that must be for a reason.
Aw sorry, reception was a little weak there, you said if ALL the members vote.
So that you know, I ll explain there are nearly 3000 clubs who are members and the ones with a voting right are…..49
No, don’t laugh Mr Obama, I was not joking or trying to put one past you, I was being serious.
In fact here goes the split:
20 votes are for the Premier league clubs, 8 are for those of the Nacional B (yes, there are 20 clubs on that division), 7 for the B Metropolitana, 4 for the Primera C, 3 for the Primera D and 7 votes for the Consejo Federal (it represents 2906 clubs from all over the country)
You may think that it sounds a little disproportional, but even then with 49 votes, every now and then must be a candidate to run alongside Grondona. Well there was once, in 1991 and that candidate got….1 vote.
Like you said many times, changes bring progress, but who benefits from that progress?
Sorry, If I sound sceptic here, but you are once again right, it should benefit Argentinean football as a whole.
But I will give you one very good reason for Grondona to be able to stay up there for so long.
Of the 49 members with the right to vote, 36 receive 84% of the financial resources that come from TV rights.
That leaves the remaining 13 members with a share of 16% of that income.
I see, you have not got to where you are for nothing Sir. In answer to your question 25 votes are needed to win the election.
Wow, another very good observation from you, showing that your Arithmetic skills are great. You are correct, stating that of that minority of 13 members, 7 votes are representing 2906 clubs. So in real figures, 3% of the clubs receive 84% of that money or if you prefer it 97% does not receive it.
Can you imagine the weight that those clubs will carry if they were given the right to vote?
I am glad Sir that we are starting to agree now about the lack of democracy and representation in AFA
Thank you for having taking the time to talk to me
What? That you want to know more about this subject?
I m not sure Mr President, If I tell you more, you may consider sending your troops over to guarantee democaracy.
But Ok, I will call you again some other time and will give you more details then.
My regards to your family and speak to you soon, Sir.
Hello?
Yes, Barack Obama please?
Oh, hello Mr President, I am calling to ask you a favour, please hear my story:
This whole thing started back in 1979, where in my country began a period of tyranny, corruption and oppression and that is still going on today.
No Sir, I am not calling you from Iraq, Iran or Syria. I am calling you from Argentina.
What is that you are saying, sir? That what I am telling you is history now? That the Dictators stood down in 1983? That we have had 10 heads of State since 1979 (obviously without counting the interim ones)?
No, no Mr Obama, I am talking about the AFA (Argentinean Football Asociation). I am talking about Julio Humberto Grondona who has been running our football (soccer) since 1979.
I see, I understand what you say. That it is not your jurisdiction as AFA is a democratic institution where the authorities are voted by its members.
That it may be, Sir, but if we comapare it with your country for a second…..
Good call Mr President, nobody will ever be able to be re-elected and govern for 32 years. Not only because the constitution does not allow it, but also because every so often, new people bring new ideas and also as you are saying, it sounds suspicious that nobody seems to even nominate themselves as an alternative to the presidency.
But you are also right when you say that if the members keep voting for him that must be for a reason.
Aw sorry, reception was a little weak there, you said if ALL the members vote.
So that you know, I ll explain there are nearly 3000 clubs who are members and the ones with a voting right are…..49
No, don’t laugh Mr Obama, I was not joking or trying to put one past you, I was being serious.
In fact here goes the split:
20 votes are for the Premier league clubs, 8 are for those of the Nacional B (yes, there are 20 clubs on that division), 7 for the B Metropolitana, 4 for the Primera C, 3 for the Primera D and 7 votes for the Consejo Federal (it represents 2906 clubs from all over the country)
You may think that it sounds a little disproportional, but even then with 49 votes, every now and then must be a candidate to run alongside Grondona. Well there was once, in 1991 and that candidate got….1 vote.
Like you said many times, changes bring progress, but who benefits from that progress?
Sorry, If I sound sceptic here, but you are once again right, it should benefit Argentinean football as a whole.
But I will give you one very good reason for Grondona to be able to stay up there for so long.
Of the 49 members with the right to vote, 36 receive 84% of the financial resources that come from TV rights.
That leaves the remaining 13 members with a share of 16% of that income.
I see, you have not got to where you are for nothing Sir. In answer to your question 25 votes are needed to win the election.
Wow, another very good observation from you, showing that your Arithmetic skills are great. You are correct, stating that of that minority of 13 members, 7 votes are representing 2906 clubs. So in real figures, 3% of the clubs receive 84% of that money or if you prefer it 97% does not receive it.
Can you imagine the weight that those clubs will carry if they were given the right to vote?
I am glad Sir that we are starting to agree now about the lack of democracy and representation in AFA
Thank you for having taking the time to talk to me
What? That you want to know more about this subject?
I m not sure Mr President, If I tell you more, you may consider sending your troops over to guarantee democaracy.
But Ok, I will call you again some other time and will give you more details then.
My regards to your family and speak to you soon, Sir.