Lionel Messi’s farewell match has seriously damaged the relationship between River Plate and the AFA. The association has reportedly decided that Argentina will no longer play at River’s Estadio Monumental, the country’s largest stadium and the national team’s historic home. Although no Argentina matches are scheduled in the country in the short or medium term, a possible alternative is the renovated Estadio Ciudad de La Plata. The conflict escalated after River president Stefano Di Carlo publicly criticized Argentine football’s leadership, accusing it of shamelessness over refereeing decisions. He subsequently pushed for reforms to the league, including proposals to improve revenue generation. AFA president Claudio Tapia responded dismissively, pointing to River’s spending and its defeat against Barracas Central. River then invited other clubs to discuss potential improvements to Argentine football, but almost nobody accepted, highlighting the reluctance of other clubs to confront the AFA leadership. The dispute reached a breaking point over Messi’s October 6 farewell. The AFA claimed that Tapia had asked River to let him use the Monumental for free in exchange for donating the event's proceeds to charity. However, the event was poorly organized, becoming another source of tension between the two sides. The organizing company, Marketing Sports, and River subsequently traded accusations over the event’s shortcomings. These included the absence of the stadium's usual screen, restrictions on musical performances, and inadequate facilities for the performers. The company blamed River for preventing certain arrangements, while the club argued that the screen's removal had been announced months earlier and that it had even suggested hiring a generator. River also complained that performers had to use club offices as dressing rooms because proper facilities had not been prepared, with coordination meetings taking place only the day before the event. The political tension was also visible during the farewell itself. Tapia did not enter the pitch to participate in the tribute, while Di Carlo presented Messi with an honor in his office instead. What should have been a celebration of Argentina’s greatest footballer became another public display of the growing divide between River and the AFA. With relations seemingly beyond repair, the national team’s historic home could now be excluded from future matches, marking a significant escalation in the conflict between one of Argentina’s biggest clubs and the country's football authorities.   submitted by   /u/Maleficent-Choice254 [link]   [comments]