Rodrigo De Paul after winning the Grand Final against Italy REUTERS / David Klein
Claudio Chiqui Tapia usually does not give individual interviews. The president of the Argentine Football Association is very cautious and always navigates in stormy waters. He knows how to do it. When everything indicated that his tenure was over, he resurfaced and now amasses more power than ever at the head of the AFA and the Professional League. And all thanks to the results: the designation of Lionel Scaloni and the titles of the Copa América 2021 and the Grand Final against Italy guarantee this.
And this year he will have a chance to deliver another blow in football history when Leone Messi and company aim for the World Cup title in Qatar. This Thursday Chiqui Tapia spoke to Radio Urbana and referred to the present of the Argentine national team, but also to the situation of Rodrigo De Paul.
Camila Homs and Rodrigo de Paul.
The Atlético de Madrid midfielder is in full lawsuit over the divorce with Camila Homs and the child support that the footballer has to pay for the care of his two children with the model. Could this exclude him from the World Cup?
“To be honest, I think they are initiating the divorce. From here until justice determines which food corresponds to him, he is missing … And in the context in which he is missing, I don’t think any father refuses to give his children what is right“, Tapia outlined for the first time.
Claudio Tapia chaired the meeting with the 28 LPF clubs. PHOTO: AF
And I add: “To go to Qatar, what you don’t have to have is a criminal complaint with a pending sentence, or something like that … This is what we understand from what the FIFA regulations mark. Nowhere does it say some of the things we see in the media today. They are both great. I know Camila (for Homs) and I know him, I know the feeling they have. I have no doubt that what is being mediated out there today will eventually be resolved in the best possible way.
What has been understood in AFA and in the player’s environment is that it is a delicate personal moment, but that would not prevent him from participating in the World Cup with the national team because an agreement will finally be reached with the mother of his children. .
LOS ANGELES DE SAN RAFAEL (SEGOVIA), 20/07 / 2022.- The Argentine midfielder of Atlético de Madrid Rodrigo de Paul during the pre-season training that the team played on Wednesday in Los Ángeles de San Rafael, Segovia. EFE / Atlético de Madrid / FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY / AVAILABLE ONLY TO ILLUSTRATE ACCOMPANYING NEWS (MANDATORY CREDIT)
Thus, awaiting the process that will eventually bring peace between the parties, Lionel Scaloni breathes knowing that he will be able to count on the steering wheel that is undisputed in his scheme. Since the DT was ratified in his place, De Paul has become a key piece, and in Qatar he will play his first World Cup with the Argentine national team.
The Argentina national team, consolidated under his management
Other quotes from Claudio Tapia
“In the last two years we have been able to consolidate the goals of the Argentine national team. It had been a long time since Argentina were champions, 28 years. Three generations did not see it and we had the chance to win the Copa América, beat Italy in the final. That’s what we work for. We always worked thinking of progressing, seeing how we could help Argentine football. “
“The thing about Conmebol is important, we had to recover representation at the South American level. From Grondona there had not been such an important position for the Argentine management. It was possible to unite with UEFA and Conmebol, and Argentina have the first leadership. are many things you have to work on. “
“On the national level, taking away from the fact that it was a judicial decision, I think it was what the managers wanted, the unification of Argentine football. The AFA has always kept the attention of all the managers of Argentine football away from its place. Those who were in the Professional League out there had concerns, something they didn’t share.
“After what they had to settle between them. They wanted an election, others didn’t. He went to court and they ended up determining unification. I’m talking to Tinelli, I think it was two weeks ago that I spoke. We were also talking about the program now that starts in August, from the World Cup, which if it goes well with this new cycle on the occasion of the World Cup, it will have to work… ”.
“He has not made any claim against me, of any kind. On the contrary, I believe that when you exercise a position you want to end your mandate, which is what corresponds”.
“Journalists ask me about Scaloni’s continuity. I laugh because four years ago, when he was ad interim and ratified in office, many or most disagreed and questioned themselves. Today that same majority asks for his continuity”.
“It is undoubtedly important for us that he can continue to develop this national team project, which has brought forward the generational change and given it the identity that our team has in the game. Today the national team has done everything once again. The Argentines fall in love, it’s back to being a family project “.
“Our first goal is to work for the World Cup, and for the next FIFA date, which is September. I talked to Scaloni about his continuity, and on these dates we decided to get back together. Knowing him, Argentina and AFA will have no problem in which continues to be the DT of the Selection “.
“It depends on him. We also know what football is like, because when things go well, everyone loves you. I think when you work on a project the results come by themselves.”
“We are very worried about the dollar issue, because we really haven’t been able to be competitive not only in the national tournament, but in South American tournaments. Brazil, if you look at the lists, there are Argentines who play there permanently. I think now Gallop will be sold and this tells you that at the exchange level we are damaged. “
“This translates into competitiveness. Without a doubt it is difficult to compete, because you cannot keep players in front of any offer. Before we were exporters in Europe, today Argentina sells to South America. To Chileans, Brazilians, Uruguayans football …” .
“Perhaps Villa’s was the most relevant case, also because he is Boca. There have been other serious cases, like that of the Deportivo Español player, or what happened in Lanús. We have our gender department, where he works. every day. Fifteen days ago they met with the gender secretaries of all the clubs. “
“We will work to have a manual of action in all these cases, and the truth is that each club has its own department and acts in its own way. We try to get involved from the headquarters. We know there are cases that shouldn’t happen. and they happen, because they happen in all societies and it’s very bad. “
“The villas are special causes of the club. We accompany and the AFA has an active role. We are very happy with our lawyer Paula Ojeda, who we have understood to be the best and we have hired her to be part of the Argentine football structure. And also to make this action manual “.
“Someone out there does not remember, but we come from the death of Grondona, from a management of 38 years. We come from 38 to 38 and from an AFA intervened by a regulatory commission. Tournaments that did not start because the teams owed salaries of seven, eight months. It hasn’t happened since we’ve been here. “
“The truth is that in these five years we have also carried out a national team project. When I took office two national teams were competing, today they are 16”.
“I came with the support of Hugo (Moyano), but also with the support of all the leaders. We had no opposition.
Source: Clarin
