The Finalissima scandal is gaining momentum. The match may be held on March 31 in Italy
The situation surrounding the organization of the Finalissima match between the champions of Europe and South America continues to intensify. According to journalist Hernán Castillo, UEFA has officially notified the Argentine Football Association (AFA) of its decision to hold the encounter at the Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Reportedly, the notification was sent via email, without any prior meetings—neither in person nor via video conference. Moreover, this was a unilateral decision by UEFA. Both the AFA and CONMEBOL reacted sharply to this initiative. The South American side stated that it would not accept the option of playing the match in Spain, as it contradicts the previously signed contract, which stipulates that the game must be held on neutral territory.
In addition, representatives of the Argentine federation stressed that the match is crucial for the national team’s preparations for the World Cup. In this regard, the AFA insists on finding an alternative venue for the fixture. It is noted that the Argentine team is ready to play in Europe—in particular, the possibility of a friendly against Serbia is being considered.
However, UEFA responded that it would be impossible to arrange a game against Serbia on such short notice. As an alternative, the European organization proposed that Argentina play a match against Spain in Italy on either March 27 or 29.
In turn, the AFA put forward a new proposal: if a friendly with Serbia is not possible, then the Finalissima should be played on March 31 in Italy, giving the team more time to prepare. No final decision has been made yet, but at this point, Italy is being considered the most likely neutral venue.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
