MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner confirms decision to “democratize” access to soccer games

“Still shocked” by the decision admits T y C sports broadcaster media president Marcelo Bombau

Former Argentine president Néstor Kirchner, deputy elect for the government's Victory Front and husband of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, said he believed “all Argentine's should have free access to soccer games,” and denied reports suggesting he had met with the head of the AFA Argentine Football Association, Julio Grondona.

Kirchner defended an increased control of the state over the media, claiming it would increase participation. “From my point of view, it is very important to democratize all the structures in Argentina, and that's why everybody should have access to soccer,” he asserted.

The ex-president went on to say that the “monopolist practices in the broadcasting of soccer must come to an end.”

The Argentine government is reportedly negotiating the purchase of the rights to broadcast soccer games, which are currently in the hands of media group Clarín, a company described by the ex-president as “imperialistic”.

Different sectors of the media and the opposition have said the alleged initiative of the government to nationalize the broadcasting of soccer games is a populist manoeuvre of the Kirchner administration.

Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández assured on a radio interview that ”so far there are no agreements between the government and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for the broadcast of soccer games.“

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was scheduled to meet with AFA's head Julio Grondona this afternoon who is also FIFA vice-president.

Aníbal Fernández added that ”the government listened to what AFA had to say yesterday, so we set up a meeting for today since we considered the President should be addressed and acknowledge with this matter“.

The Minister also remarked that ”Studies of the case and a possible government's intervention”, will be taken upon President's decision.

Argentine soccer bosses met government officials Wednesday following media reports that President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner administration planned to take over broadcast rights to games.

The Kirchner ruling couple which has increased state control of the economy, offered to pay 158 million USD per season to the Argentine FA for the rights to televise the games for free viewing. That would be more than double what the TSC media group — a partnership between TyC sports broadcaster media conglomerate Clarín, was paying before AFA terminated the contract on Tuesday.

TyC president Marcelo Bombau admitted that “we are still shocked; this was like being stabbed on the back.” Bombau also tried to find the reasons why the State might want to enter the soccer business.

“The government was looking to strike back on media conglomerate Grupo Clarín but they seem not to understand that we are not Clarín, we are partners only. As a matter of fact, TyC is also partners with DirectTV and Fox Sports, which are direct competitors of the media conglomerate Grupo Clarín.”

Asked whether any government’s official had talked to TyC or informed of a possible buy-out in case of AFA rescinding its TV contract, Bombau was categorical: “Nothing, we have never been approached by the government on this matter.”

Ernesto Cherquis Bialo, AFA spokesman, had announced that AFA will assume all legal consequences arising from breaking the contract. It has been mentioned that TyC will sue the FA for millions of dollars.

Bombou also said: “We have 1000 employees approximately and now many of them might lose their jobs, there are also 800 cable networks nationwide that will be affected by the breach of contract”.