Argentina gets permission to move qualifier
Published:Thursday | July 23, 2009 | 5:32 PM
Argentina have moved their World Cup qualifier against Brazil in September from Buenos Aires to Rosario today after coach Diego Maradona complained about the quality of Monumental Stadium.
FIFA gave permission to the Argentine Football Association to make the move for the September 5 match.
The match will be at Gigante de Arroyito Stadium, the home of Rosario Central, about 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires.
Maradona described the field at Monumental Stadium as \"disastrous\" and a \"pasture\" before a 1-0 victory over Colombia on June 6 in a World Cup qualifier.
However, many considered his criticism biased, as Monumental was the home of River Plate, the archrival of Boca Juniors, Maradona\'s old team.
With four rounds left in South American qualifying, Argentina occupied the fourth and final automatic qualifying slot.
Brazil lead the group with 27 points, followed by Chile 26 and Paraguay 24, with Argentina on 22 points and facing competition from Ecuador 20, Uruguay 18, Colombia 17 and Venezuela 17.