Argentine FA breaks TV deal

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina's soccer league rescinded its contract with private broadcasters on late Tuesday amid a proposed government takeover of the rights to televise its matches.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) earlier said its delayed season would start Aug 21 - two weeks late. Games didn't begin on Friday as originally scheduled because of severe financial problems afflicting the top clubs, which are heavily in debt and owe back pay to players.

Ernesto Cherquis Bialo, spokesman for the league, said an AFA committee decided to breach the contract with a consortium of private media networks that had five years to run. He said the league "has been harmed strongly" by terms of the deal but gave no details.