The AFA have released a statement following the cancellation of the Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain.
Argentina against Spain in the Finalissima was originally set to be played on March 27 in Qatar but due to the ongoing situation in the region, the match was set to be moved. It was announced on Sunday through UEFA that the match was cancelled, stating that they had proposed different resolutions for the situation.
Following the statement released by UEFA, CONMEBOL released the following statement about the match:
“CONMEBOL and the AFA consistently reiterated their desire to play the Finalissima on neutral ground and accepted the proposed venue after UEFA’s persistent insistence that the match be held in Madrid. Unfortunately, it was not possible to reach a final agreement on staging the match, as the requested alternative date could not be accommodated due to the limited time available.
“CONMEBOL and UEFA had agreed months ago to hold the Finalissima between the national teams of Argentina and Spain in Qatar, a country that has demonstrated its ability to organize events of this magnitude and a firm commitment to football.
“Once the possibility of playing in Qatar was ruled out, both confederations—as well as the Argentine and Spanish football associations—set out to find a solution that would satisfy all parties. In this context, it is clear that the proposal to hold a single match in Madrid would violate the principle of sporting fairness, as it is not a NEUTRAL VENUE.
“In this situation, on Saturday, March 14, the AFA received a proposal to hold the match at a neutral venue, Italy, on March 27. ARGENTINA ACCEPTED THE IDEA WITHOUT OBJECTIONS, except for the date, suggesting March 31.
“Unfortunately, UEFA announced that holding the match on the 31st—just four days later than the original proposal—was not possible, resulting in the cancellation of the Finalissima.
“CONMEBOL and the AFA deeply regret that, despite the efforts made and the willingness expressed to play this match on neutral ground from the outset, it has not been possible to do so.
“CONMEBOL and the AFA can only thank Qatar for its customary goodwill and UEFA and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for their efforts to make this momentous match a reality.”
And why was 27 March in Rome not possible?
It was the original date.