Before we wrap up our subject of match fixing in Argentina, we will give you one more example of “coincidences” in Argentinean football.
A few years back in 1997 more precisely, during the last round of the Apertura tournament, River only needed a draw against Argentinos Juniors to win the title from eternal rivals Boca Juniors.
Before the game began, as we were sitting in the journalists reserved area, a colleague, told us. “It is all sorted. It will be 1-1, with Argentinos levelling the score at the 75 minutes mark”. For those familiar with Argentinean journalists, the one giving us the tip, was Nacho Goano
River’s line up that day will suggest that they needed no help at all, and Argentinos, recently promoted, were playing for nothing.
River: Burgos/ H. Diaz, Ayala, Berizzo, Sorin/ Escudero, Astrada, Berti, Gallardo/ Francescoli, Salas.
River took the lead through “el matador” Salas from a header, Turing the first half. The champions to be were far the superior team, and were deservedly leading at half time.
However the level of effort from River Plate, on the second half, dropped to alarming levels.
And eventually Argentinos equalised through Saavedra. When? On the 76th minute.
Coincidence? Maybe. Was River reserving energy for their then forthcoming Supercopa final against Sao Paulo?
The fact of the matter is that they did finish 1-1 that the equalising goal did come at the time our colleague told us that it was going to.
A few weeks ago, we asked Goano, how did he know that that game was going to finish 1-1 and that Argentinos were going to equalise at that time?
He denied anything like that happening. He in fact told us, that he never said that.
Having watched the game many times over, the difference on the performance on each half by River is suspicious to say the least. The attempt made by Burgos to save Argentinos goal is suspicious to say the least too.
We have put the clip of the highlight of that game, on our clips page, for you to judge by yourself. it is the sixth one from the top
Conclusions:
After having talked to so many people inside the game, some that have admitted to have played a part on the outcome of games, our conclusion is that the core of the game in the country is rotten.
Nothing is transparent; no one takes measures to make sure these suspicions don’t arise.
Sometimes when questions are asked, you get smiles as first answer.
We have gathered no evidence that full tournaments are fixed, or that betting syndicates are involved.
We certainly have demonstrated here that there are games that are influenced by different parties (referees, players, board members, AFA, hooligans), and that nobody is doing anything to change that.
Everyone has each other in their pocket, and everyone is inside the biggest pocket in the country that of Julio Humberto Grondona.
Nothing happens in football in Argentina, without his knowledge and say so.
And by that we mean NOTHING.
A few years back in 1997 more precisely, during the last round of the Apertura tournament, River only needed a draw against Argentinos Juniors to win the title from eternal rivals Boca Juniors.
Before the game began, as we were sitting in the journalists reserved area, a colleague, told us. “It is all sorted. It will be 1-1, with Argentinos levelling the score at the 75 minutes mark”. For those familiar with Argentinean journalists, the one giving us the tip, was Nacho Goano
River’s line up that day will suggest that they needed no help at all, and Argentinos, recently promoted, were playing for nothing.
River: Burgos/ H. Diaz, Ayala, Berizzo, Sorin/ Escudero, Astrada, Berti, Gallardo/ Francescoli, Salas.
River took the lead through “el matador” Salas from a header, Turing the first half. The champions to be were far the superior team, and were deservedly leading at half time.
However the level of effort from River Plate, on the second half, dropped to alarming levels.
And eventually Argentinos equalised through Saavedra. When? On the 76th minute.
Coincidence? Maybe. Was River reserving energy for their then forthcoming Supercopa final against Sao Paulo?
The fact of the matter is that they did finish 1-1 that the equalising goal did come at the time our colleague told us that it was going to.
A few weeks ago, we asked Goano, how did he know that that game was going to finish 1-1 and that Argentinos were going to equalise at that time?
He denied anything like that happening. He in fact told us, that he never said that.
Having watched the game many times over, the difference on the performance on each half by River is suspicious to say the least. The attempt made by Burgos to save Argentinos goal is suspicious to say the least too.
We have put the clip of the highlight of that game, on our clips page, for you to judge by yourself. it is the sixth one from the top
Conclusions:
After having talked to so many people inside the game, some that have admitted to have played a part on the outcome of games, our conclusion is that the core of the game in the country is rotten.
Nothing is transparent; no one takes measures to make sure these suspicions don’t arise.
Sometimes when questions are asked, you get smiles as first answer.
We have gathered no evidence that full tournaments are fixed, or that betting syndicates are involved.
We certainly have demonstrated here that there are games that are influenced by different parties (referees, players, board members, AFA, hooligans), and that nobody is doing anything to change that.
Everyone has each other in their pocket, and everyone is inside the biggest pocket in the country that of Julio Humberto Grondona.
Nothing happens in football in Argentina, without his knowledge and say so.
And by that we mean NOTHING.