The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has decided to lift the suspension of Club El Porvenir's affiliation, thus allowing its reincorporation into official competitions. This measure was taken after the governmental interventions that had motivated the initial suspension ceased and on Wednesday afternoon, at the Directorate of Legal Entities based in La Plata, a meeting was held between the involved parties, where an agreement was signed to solve the conflict and avoid judicialization.
During the suspension period, El Porvenir was unable to play the first match of the Primera C tournament against Central Córdoba de Rosario, a match that was postponed. With the reinstatement of its affiliation, the Gerli team will resume official competition in the second match, facing Mercedes next Tuesday at 3:30 PM.
What had been the AFA's sanction?
On February 12, 2025, the AFA provisionally suspended El Porvenir's affiliation due to a complaint filed by the ultra-Kirchnerist mayor of Lanús, Julián Álvarez, requesting the club's intervention. This action contravened the regulations of the AFA and FIFA, which prohibit political interference in sports institutions, which could have led to international sanctions for Argentine football.
This resolution was subject to the approval of the AFA's Executive Committee and Assembly, with the possibility of being annulled if external interference stopped, which eventually happened. At the time, the president of the Gerli institution, Enrique Merelas, publicly denounced, both before the AFA and in court, having received death threats and accused the mayor's office of maneuvers to take control of the club.
