BUENOS AIRES, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Former Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo launched an outspoken attack on the state of the game in his country and the leadership of its football
association on Wednesday.
Bilardo, who led Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986 and
the 1990 final, said it was time for a change at the top of the
Argentina Football Association (AFA), where Julio Grondona has
been president since 1979.
'I feel shame when I see the state of Argentine football,'
Bilardo told La Nacion newspaper in an interview.
'The security matter is a disgrace, the standard of
refereeing is worrying...the clubs are in a mess and don't have
enough money even to buy grass.
'On the day that Grondona leaves, a lot of problems will be
solved in Argentine football... But if there isn't a change
soon, Argentina football will fall apart. It's a disgrace.
'Compare our stadiums to the ones in Spain and you'll see
what I am talking about.'
Bilardo, 68, who has been working in television since his
last coaching job with Estudiantes, said he had ditched his plan
to run for the AFA presidency because it was a closed shop.
'I've given up on being AFA president, because the strongest
20 clubs support this leadership,' he said.
'Nowadays, trying to be president of the AFA is like banging
your head against a wall, you have to fight everyone and I'm
tired of that.
'If all the 2,800 clubs in this country had a vote, it
wouldn't be a problem, I tell you that I'd win.
'But only 49 have the vote.
