Argentina may move its remaining 2010 World Cup qualifiers from Buenos Aires to the city of Rosario after coach Diego Maradona earlier this month called the playing surface at Buenos Aires' River Plate stadium "disastrous, horrible."Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine football association, said Wednesday it had told FIFA of the possible switch. He said the stadium in Rosario, about 300 kilometers (180 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires, met all the requirements of the game's ruling body.
With four games left to play, Argentina currently has the fourth and final qualifying slot from South America for next year's finals in South Africa.
The group is led by Brazil (27), Chile (26) and Paraguay (24), with Argentina on 22 points and facing competition from Ecuador (20), Uruguay (18), Colombia (17) and Venezuela (17).
The team finishing fifth faces a playoff with the fourth-place finisher from North and Central America and the Caribbean for another qualifying berth.
Julio Macchi, the vice president of River Plate, said he was upset with Maradona's criticism and has said so in a letter to Grondona.
Argentina has two home matches remaining in qualifying _ Sept. 5 vs. Brazil and Oct. 10 vs. Peru. Argentina has away matches on Sept. 8 in Paraguay and Oct. 13 in Uruguay.
Videos
Post your feedback
