Pablo Milad, president of the National Professional Football Association (ANFP), denied that the recent meeting with FIFA envoys had ended in a scandal. He said world football's governing body seeks "stability in governance" in the separation of the ANFP from the Chilean Football Federation (FFCh).
Speaking to CNN Chile, Milad said he had been present throughout the meeting. "I never saw any protest, earthquake or scandal," he said, although he acknowledged that "there are differing positions on this."
The visit by FIFA representatives Jair Bertoni and Mariano Zavala aimed to review the statutes governing the split between the two entities, one of the changes required by the new law on Professional Sports Corporations (SADP), according to La Tercera.
The central issue is who leads each institution. According to ADN Deportes, cited by CNN Chile, whoever wins the ANFP election on November 19, contested by Jorge Uauy and Jorge Yunge, will assume only the league presidency. The Federation, which controls La Roja, will hold its own election.
Until then, Milad would remain in charge of the FFCh. La Tercera reported that FIFA was open to granting him special permission to continue beyond November 19, with a final deadline of February 28. ADN Deportes, meanwhile, reported that the statutes must be approved by November 30 at the latest.
Milad explained the reasoning behind that timetable. "What FIFA wants is stability in governance, no interim administrations, but for me to finish the term so I can hand over to a new president for 4 years," he said. He added that the Federation election could take place "much earlier" than that date.
The proposal did not satisfy everyone. According to witnesses cited by El Deportivo, Uauy, president of Palestino, was among the most upset and told the envoys from Zurich that Chilean football follows its own timetable. His argument: a year is needed to approve the statutes and hold the Federation elections.
The National Amateur Football Association (ANFA), led by Justo Álvarez, supports the timetable and welcomes Milad remaining at the Federation until February. The association wants to prevent the separation from dragging on until November of next year, the latest deadline set by law.
Milad spoke of "total consensus" on the statutes with the ANFA and the stakeholder groups that will make up the Federation Council. "All that remains is to approve these statutes and implement them," he said.
The timetable also affects the national team. La Tercera noted that the ANFP must choose the coach for the start of the 2030 World Cup qualifiers, with Manuel Pellegrini as the leading candidate, and that officials at Quilín hope to have made the decision by March. Milad has said he will leave that decision to his successor.
Asked whether he would run again, Milad said no. "I am going to hand the key to the Federation to the president who will serve for four years, not a few months," he concluded.