FRF "requests damage payment" if Argentina annuls match

The President of the Romanian Football Federation, Mircea Sandu, states that he has sent a

letter to his homologue from Argentina, asking him to respect the contract which was signed

the previous year and to honour the friendly match which was to be held on 10 August, at the

inauguration of the National Arena stadium.

Mircea Sandu states that he has not received any official notice concerning the annulment of the

match and that he has seen, on the official site of the football federation from Argentina (AFA),

an article which announced the demission of the national team coach and the annulment of the

friendly match against Romania, programmed on 10 August.

The President of the Romanian Football Federation has warned that he would address FIFA and

that he would request damage compensation from Argentina, for not respecting the contract.

According to the contract of 1 200 000 euros, signed in October the previous year, Argentina's

representative was obliged to bring four important players: Messi, Higuain, Tevez and

Mascherano.

Mircea Sandu has also stated that he had contracted the President of the football federation from

Argentina, Julio Grondona, on the date of 21 July and that he had asked him to intercede with

the clubs where the star players are activating, so that they can participate in the friendly match against Romania.

FRF President has also stated that Portugal is a replacement solution for Argentina and he

has mentioned the fact that he had sent a letter concerning this subject to Gilberto Madail, the

President of the Portuguese Football Federation.

"I have taken the list of matches from FIFAs website and I think Andorra is the only team which

does not have a match. We have a contract signed with Uruguay for a match in February, 2012.

Portugal is a solution, I have addressed a letter to Madail, making an appeal to him to accept to

come to us instead of Luxembourg. If Portugal will not come either, we have nothing left to do

but to inaugurate the stadium at a favourable moment, at the official match against France, in

September", Mircea Sandu stated.

At National Arena, the floodlights have been verified

On Monday evening, at National Arena, the floodlights and the sound system have been verified,

and the lawn has been partially assembled.

General Mayor Sorin Oprescu, who was present at the event, stated that the immediate

preoccupations are aimed at arranging the entry and exit points of the sports arena and the

parking lots, as well as at organizing the transportation.

Photograph: National Arena

The General Mayor has estimated that, in approximately one week, the last details will be

established.

"On Tuesday, the endowment of the eight medical cabinets with everything needed will be

commenced. There will be means of transportation carrying the players to the stadium, and,

separately, the people who are in need of medical assistance and the anti-doping cabinet will be

endowed with everything needed", Sorin Oprescu stated.

The UEFA representative who has inspected the works at the stadium along with the General

Mayor has complimented the way in which the work is being done and the fact that the stage

of the work is advanced, mentioning, however, the fact that the aim of UEFA is the full

functionality of the stadium by 2012, when it will host the Europa League final.

On the occasion of the friendly match between Argentina and Romania, FRF launched on 25

July an official supporter's shirt in limited edition.

Beside National Arena in Bucharest, two other modernized stadiums which will be able to host

European level matches are being constructed in Cluj and Ploieşti.

Translated by: Mădălina Borcău,

MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest Universty