Argentinian Football Association wants the government to habilitate football bettings

AFA President knows that, until the new football tournament starts in Argentina, the debate will be strictly economic. Although it is thought that the crisis is restricted to a few clubs that have delayed the payment of the salaries, Grondona considered that the possibility of managing the bets on the football games is of key importance, and not in the way of current PRODE game (Sports results forecast), that is not attractive for the audience.

So far, the Trade Union of Argentine Football Players (Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados) proposes not to start the tournament (Torneo Apertura) if debts with the players are not paid. For Grondona, one of the possible solutions could come from the state. "The Union talks because it knows that the state did not bring answers for PRODE. They still bring us the common draw and not the one we want. If modification on the PRODE system were made, we would find a solution in the short term, that would be profitable for everyone. The solution would be total...", concluded Grondona.

If current PRODE is modified, it'd allow a sports betting system by phone or Internet, which would offer an immediate charge. But, for its implementation, the State will have to decide who handles those bets: if it is performed by the lottery and AFA takes just a percentage of the winnings, or if AFA calls to a tender so a private operator (or several operators) operate this modality of bets.

It would also allow other business via Internet and telephone. With the traditional draw of PRODE, AFA obtains nowadays less than 11% of the bets, and the percentage would be larger through our percentage system.