Argentina: Football Association Considers Radical Overhaul Of Championship

Eleven different teams have been champions of Argentina in the last 20 years. No country in the world can match this.  This may appear to be a footballing heaven, the ultimate soccer democracy for those of us whose domestic leagues only have the same two or three realistic contenders for the title each season.

There are, however, two championships per season - the Apertura (Opening), and Clausura (Closing), lasting 19 games.

The 'torneos cortos' started life in the early 1990's. According to the Argentine Football Association (AFA,) the rationale behind them was to re-energise the league system. Two champions, twice the excitement, all packed into one thrilling season. It would also give the bigger clubs twice the opportunity to strike gold.

But reports from Argentina seem to indicate a back-to-the-future style return to the more traditional 38-game championship, which may happen as soon as 2011. AFA president Julio Grondona has assured the movers and shakers in the game that the new format will be evaluated and put to the Executive Committee, as we all know the ratification of it will ultimately be down to Don Julio.

There is no doubt that the torneos cortos have helped to create some exciting finales. Who can forget the historic three-way tie between Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo and Tigre for the 2008 Apertura?  Or Angel Cappa's Huracán needing only a draw at Vélez Sarsfield on the final day of the 2009 Clausura, and the ensuing mayhem and drama which saw Vélez win 1-0 and snatch the title?

But the negative aspects of the two titles per season format far outweigh any positives.  Firstly, if a team makes a bad start, they have no chance of reversing it and challenging. Lose your first three games, and you're out of the race.

The short tournaments also by their very nature lead to a culture of short-termism at clubs. Us football fans aren't the most patient of people. Halve the number of games in a championship, and after two bad results supporters are calling for a new coach.  President Julio Comparada of Independiente is now on coach number eight of his reign.

The revolving doors at many clubs make it impossible to stabilise and plan for the future.  Mistakes by referees are magnified.  Players who are recovering from injuries may be thrown into a game a few matches before they're 100 percent fit, leading to further and more serious problems in the future.

The cliche that 'football is a results business' is all true, but the intensity of the short tournaments leads to more fervour and violent consequences both on and of the field, something that Argentine football is depressingly familiar with. 

Andean neighbours Chile have announced a return to a single-tournament format after almost 10 years of two championships per year.  It remains to be seen what the AFA plan to do with the transfer window, whether it will open once or twice a year, and to date the outrageous Promedio relegation system will remain.

A 38-game championship will remove some of the romance but crucially will deliver a large dose of reality and responsibility to the benefit of the domestic game.