Argentine Football Association (AFA) secretary Miguel Silva has affirmed that the two deciding matches of the Transition championship will be played on Sunday December 14, effectively confirming that River Plate’s request to delay the final round will be upheld.
Table leaders Racing Club hoped to play their last match against Godoy Cruz on December 7, as foreseen in the Transition calendar. But despite club president Victor Blanco’s assertion that La Academia would make a formal presentation to the governing body, Silva confirmed that the game must be played at the same time as the River match against Quilmes delayed due to the Millionaire’s involvement in the South American Cup.
«The regulations are clear. In the last game, all the clubs with chances of winning the league or getting relegated must play the same day and time,» the secretary said during a radio interview.
«The championship does not depend on Racing, because with a draw or win the tournament still has no champion. Only a victory means they depend on themselves.»
Speaking to Radio Rivadavia, Silva underlined that «the championship deciders must be postponed and that means that on December 14 the game will be played.»
Racing currently lie top of the Transition, with 38 points from 18 games. A win over Godoy Cruz would guarantee Diego Cocca’s men the title no matter what River achieve away to Quilmes.
If Racing lose or draw, however, Marcelo Gallardo’s charges (36 points) would still have a chance of glory. An Academia draw would leave River needing a win to force the championship into a play-off, while defeat in Avellaneda and a Millionaire win would see the Núñez club take their second title of the year by just one point.
In the meantime, River will take on Atlético Nacional in a two-legged final for the South American Cup. On December 3 the Argentines travel to Colombia’s Medellín for the opening match, with the return fixture scheduled a week later in the Monumental.
AFA regulation stipulate that any side disputing a continental final reserves the right to postpone fixtures in the domestic tournament, a right River president Rodolfo D’Onofrio confirmed his team would make use of shortly after beating Boca Juniors in the semi-final.
buenosairesherald.com