The South American Football Thread

Aye it's really out of hand in places. There was a piece in the new World Soccer about the dodgy way transfers are carried out in Argentina (using a 3rd, "bridging club" from Uruguay to avoid tax payments) and it seems Independiente are bucking the trend and actually releasing accurate information on their transfer deals and player ownerships, turns out they have a few players where they own nothing and their entire rights are split between 3rd parties. I'd imagine that'll be quite common at other clubs too.

Chile.

The sooner FIFA decide to get their heads out of their arses and stamp out on third party ownership the better.

Argieball is where it's at. Brazil's too European and Chile's been boring since La U started to crumble.

Disagree massively with this. Third party ownership can be a great thing in football, it actually keeps the domestic transfer market relatively inflation free. Also prevents clubs doing a Portsmouth and spending massively beyond their means.

Disagree with this too. Of the European leagues I've watched none come near Brazil. The Brazilian game is very counter attacking, nothing in Europe is like it.

Copa Libertadores quarter final 1st leg is on now: Boca - Newell's Old Boys. Riquelme vs. Gabriel Heinze & Maxi Rodriguez.

Highlight so far being that the commentator most certainly has English as his second language.

Why were they playing in China?

I can sort of understand when they play in Europe as the players are based here (even though its really a bit unfair on people in the countries) but there seems no logic to it being in China.