The dispute of the third date of the
Copa Sudamericana
this week provoked the anger of the fans of at least three important Argentine soccer teams.
It had nothing to do with a sporting result, but with
the impossibility of accessing the television
matches of
Estudiantes de La Plata
,
Newell's
and
San Lorenzo de Almagro
, which fuels
doubts about how the issue will continue in the coming weeks.
The South American, one of the most important soccer competitions on the continent, has in the current edition as representatives of Argentina
San Lorenzo, Huracán, Defensa y Justicia, Newell's, Tigre, Estudiantes de La Plata and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.
Estudiantes tied with Bragantino in Brazil.
Photo: EFE/Isaac Fontana
During the first two days of competition, their matches were broadcast on
all cable television systems in the country, without any type of exclusivity.
Those meetings were broadcast on DirecTV, Flow and ESPN.
Last week it became known that, despite the existence of an agreement for the matches to be broadcast on cable TV systems, there was going to be
a refusal to sell the rights holders.
Agonizing victory for Newell's over Santos in Rosario.
Photo: REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
Thus, as a result of these restrictions, many fans were left without seeing the Estudiantes draw against Bragantino in Brazil on Tuesday and the agonizing victory of Newell's against Santos in Rosario.
The same thing happens this Wednesday with the visit of San Lorenzo to Palestino de Chile.
The statement from the cable operators
In the midst of the controversy, the cable operators stated that more than
70% of Argentine fans
will not be able to see a large part of the South American Cup, something that goes against what Conmebol stated and communicated that their interest is always that their competencies can be seen with the widest possible distribution.
"Flow informs that it will not be able to broadcast several matches of Argentine teams that are playing the Copa Sudamericana, after having transmitted the first 2 complete dates. The rights holders have expressed their refusal to sell them to our platform. We regret that This decision, which is beyond our control and which we have tried to reverse without success, affects our more than 3 million customers," said the aforementioned cable operator in a press release last Monday.
"We will continue working so that FLOW is the leading entertainment, music and gaming platform in Argentina," he remarked.
Anger of the partners of San Lorenzo
Given this situation,
late
Tuesday, San Lorenzo announced an agreement with DirecTV Sports, one of its sponsors, so that its partners could watch the broadcast of the match.
"#SanLorenzo has good news for all members and fans: their sponsor @DIRECTVLA gives them the chance to watch the match with Palestino for FREE, for the South American Cup. They just have to subscribe to DGO and they will have a free month to watch this match Wednesday and access much more content: other Cup matches, the Under 20 World Cup, European leagues, the Copa del Rey final...
To enjoy this benefit, go to http://directvgo.com The offer is only valid for Argentina "
, was the text that circulated on social networks.
However, when Cyclone fans wanted to enter, they realized that they had to load a debit or credit card, since once the free month was completed, they would begin to be charged for the service.
The responses and demonstrations of the Barça fans were not the best and the vast majority preferred to look for other alternatives to be able, at least, to accompany the excursion of Ruben Daría Insua's team to Chile.
look too
Palestino vs. San Lorenzo, for the Copa Sudamericana: time, how to watch it, previous and probable formations
River and the 5 worst defeats in its history in the Copa Libertadores, after the hard blow that occurred in Brazil
The VAR, the tool that came to deliver justice and only generates controversy: the blunders of the date
