Club Atlético River Plate's leadership is in a dispute with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) over the payment for stadium rental for Lionel Messi's farewell match. AFA president Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia formally requested that the club waive the $400,000 fee for the use of the Monumental stadium for the Argentina national team's friendly against Benin on October 6, proposing the sum be donated to charity.
The proposal was made during the AFA Executive Committee meeting on September 22 and conveyed to River Plate's vice president, Ignacio Villarroel. Officials from Núñez expressed surprise and discomfort at a request they had never made, as the club is entitled to receive that income for the use of its facilities. The disputed amount, which some estimates place at nearly $500,000, represents significant revenue River Plate would receive if it charges its standard rate. The final decision rests with the club's leadership headed by Stefano Di Carlo, who must resolve the matter before the match date.
AFA seeks charitable gesture amid economic strain
The AFA framed its request as a charitable gesture given the country's difficult economic situation, where tickets for Messi's farewell match range from 180,000 to 480,000 pesos. The governing body's idea is to redirect the money it would pay River Plate to a charitable cause, though the specific beneficiary has not been named. This comes at a time when Argentine football is debating how to distribute its resources, with clubs operating on tight budgets. River's stance has found support from figures like former president Rodolfo D'Onofrio, a longstanding critic of AFA decisions.
River Plate pushes six reform pillars
The conflict over the stadium rental is just the surface of a deeper disagreement. River Plate, which returned to the AFA Executive Committee after more than six months of absence, submitted a critical document outlining six pillars for reforming Argentine football with an eye on 2028. The proposals seek a gradual reduction of teams in the Primera División, a reorganization of the calendar and transfer windows, greater institutional transparency, refereeing reforms with performance-based evaluation criteria, more equitable revenue sharing, and a restructuring of television rights.
The club has begun private talks with at least ten other teams to form an opposing front against AFA decisions, seeking consensus for structural change. The AFA's response has been that these proposals will be analyzed for 2028, as the 2027 competition cycles are already defined. This reform push comes as the team battles to climb the Liga Profesional table, where they currently sit 8th with 13 points from 10 games, following a recent 1-2 loss to Huracán.
The River Plate leadership's decision on the stadium fee will be made before October 6, the date of the farewell match. Meanwhile, the squad's immediate focus is on the pitch: this Saturday, October 4, they visit 7th-placed Sarmiento Junín in a key match to maintain their positive run of three wins in their last five games (LWWWD).
More detail at Clarín Deportes
