BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — As of now, Argentina has only nine players in its Olympic squad, and the president of the Argentine Olympic Committee has hinted he may not send a team.
An Argentina Football Association statement said “the coaching team was resigning” because of the confusion surrounding the governance of AFA, and for the “serious problems involved assembling a team to represent the country in the upcoming Olympic Games.”
Gerardo Werthein, president of the Argentine Olympic Committee, said he was hopeful a team could be assembled, despite some clubs balking at releasing players.
“I have started talking with the football leadership, some club presidents,” Werthein said. “The clubs and the people who lead them are more responsible (than AFA). We have worked hand-in-hand … for Argentina to have a team.”
Argentina is to open against Portugal on Aug. 4 in the men’s football tournament.
