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Argentina threatens to withdraw from Copa América
Please don’t.
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Considering it exists for the sole purpose of being a vehicle to help commit fraud, the Copa América appears to be going smoothly. Oh wait, sorry, its biggest draw might withdraw because they’re mad about something unrelated to the tournament. Argentina’s FA is really mad at the government, so they might take their ball and go home.
The government has stopped AFA from holding elections, and AFA is mad. “The elections are suspended for 90 days and could be suspended for 90 days more,” said AFA executive secretary Damian Dupiellet. “Two inspectors have been sent to carry out an internal review. This is clear interference in the life of the AFA.”
And why did the government do that? Well, because AFA can’t find money that they took from the government. That seems fair enough, but the government really isn’t supposed to interfere in national FAs, and this could get Argentina in some trouble with FIFA. The likes of Nigeria, Cameroon, Kuwait and Indonesia have been suspended by soccer’s governing body in the last five years for government interference into the sport.
In short, Argentina is threatening to pull out of the fraud tournament because they’re very mad about someone trying to find out if they committed even more fraud. Isn’t international soccer great?
The FA is holding a vote on Tuesday regarding whether they’ll ask the national team to leave the United States.
Goal of the day
This Dimitri Payet free kick might be his most outrageous yet. (r/soccer)
In the news
If Argentina does play in Copa América, Lionel Messi will probably be fit despite suffering a back injury last week. (SI)
By the way, Messi is currently on trial for tax fraud. (BBC)
Alan Pulido got kidnapped and went Jason Bourne on his captors. He’s safe now.
Tijuana’s season didn’t go well so they just transfer listed the entire team. (Club Tijuana)
José Mourinho is apparently cool with re-signing Michael Carrick. (Guardian)
Russia fast-tracked Roman Neustädter’s passport so he could play for them at the Euros. (Bundesliga)
Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas is out of Copa América. (Stars and Stripes FC)
The CONCACAF Champions League draw was made this weekend. (MLS)
Noted Lame Jamie Vardy has blocked his lookalike a couple weeks after partying with him. (Telegraph)
From the rumor mill No. 1: Bayern rejected a big bid from Madrid for David Alaba. (AS)
From the rumor mill No. 2: Paul Pogba bought a house in Barcelona. (Football Italia)
You should be reading
Piya Shrestha on the rise of the superfan and why all those Arsenal fans in your social spaces aren’t going away. (Unusual Efforts)
Jonathon Aspey on the great Yugoslavia national team that never was. (These Football Times)
Tom Marshall on this wonderful season in Liga MX. (ESPN FC)
What happened this weekend
The Liga MX final was lit. (ESPN FC)
And NWSL highlights here. (NWSL on YouTube)
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