Delayed Argentine soccer season to open Aug. 21 amid proposed government takeover of TV rights

Argentina’s delayed soccer season to start Aug. 21

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina’s delayed soccer season will start Aug. 21 amid a proposed government takeover of television rights to the games.

The season was unable to start Friday because of severe financial problems facing the country’s top clubs, which are heavily in debt and owe back pay to players.

The government has proposed paying the clubs $154 million for rights to televise the season, which would force the league to break the contract of private media networks five years early.

Boca Juniors vice president Jose Beraldi said the Argentine Football Association would decide Tuesday night whether to accept the proposal.

“We hope there aren’t any changes because the start can’t be delayed,” he said.

The government is offering to more than double the current package for TV rights, which amounts to $69 million this year. That cash would erase most of debts of the top 20 clubs in Argentina’s first division, which owe a combined $182 million to the AFA, the government tax agency and the players.

The government would broadcast games on its state TV channel and perhaps resell rights to other cable networks or private channels.