FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) set the rules this Wednesday for separating the ANFP from the Football Federation of Chile (FFCh). It did so at a meeting in Quilín that ended in a heated exchange between officials.
According to ADN Radio, reporting through ADN Deportes, the international delegates met with Pablo Milad, his directors and the FFCh council. They established that whoever wins the November 19 election will take over only as president of the Chilean League.
The ANFP (National Association of Professional Football) brings together professional clubs and organizes tournaments. The Federation is the body that represents Chilean football before FIFA and manages the national teams. The two institutions currently share leadership, and FIFA seeks to separate them.
The measure changes the landscape of the election between Jorge Uauy and Jorge Yunge. A new vote must be called to determine the Federation's board, separate from the one that will elect the ANFP president.
Meanwhile, Milad would remain as the FFCh's top official on an interim basis until February 28, 2027, with the task of leading the separation process. FIFA also required the Federation's new statutes to be approved no later than November 30 this year.
Uauy, president of Palestino and a candidate for the ANFP presidency, was the first to criticize the conditions. He particularly rejected Milad remaining in charge of the Federation until February, even on an interim basis.
According to ADN Radio, FIFA's representatives responded firmly. They made clear to him that what had been presented was not an option but what would happen, even if he disagreed. BioBioChile reported the same account: the body said the matter was not open to debate.
Cecilia Pérez, president of Universidad de Chile and a Federation council member, then intervened. She confronted Uauy over how desperate he appeared to take over the FFCh presidency.
The exchange has an electoral backdrop. The board of Azul Azul, the company that operates Universidad de Chile, declared its support for the slate led by Yunge, the ANFP's current general secretary. According to ADN Radio, Jorge Navarrete, a former club president, would be one of his directors if he wins.
The sources do not detail any public response from Milad or Yunge following the meeting. The next milestone is set: the statutes must be approved by November 30, eleven days after the election in Quilín.