There’s a storm brewing… (and the 2009 Apertura round 16 Friday goals)

Huracán lost yet again, this time 2-0 away to Independiente on Friday night. El Rojo scored in the first minute of the second half, and again near the end, first through Leonel Galeano and then through a solo effort from Darío Gandín. The storm, though, is elsewhere. On the day that Atlético Tucumán drew 1-1 away to Central, Aníbal Hay, an ex referee and now PR man to the AFA, has been implicated in a refereeing scandal surrounding Atlético’s first match of the current season, which looks set to cause a hell of a fuss. Read about the first rumblings of the storm, and watch the Show de goles from Friday night, right here.

Cristian Faraoni was the man in charge of Atlético Tucumán’s first match back in the Primera División, away to San Lorenzo. It was won by San Lorenz, but not before Atlético had had a goal disallowed and a penalty appeal turned down. On Friday night, Olé‘s website went live with the information that Saturday’s edition is set to carry a story that could cause an enormous scandal in Argentine football – Faraoni claims that prior to the match he had a phone conversation – which he’s recorded – with someone who wanted him to make sure San Lorenzo won. And it gets better. He’s implicated Aníbal Hay, a former referee and, until Friday, PR man for the AFA.

Hay has been suspended from the AFA pending more evidence coming to light, although refereeing chief Alejandro Toia insisted to ESPN’s Radio Rivadavia that; ‘I’ve got confidence in Hay and in Faraoni to clarify this situation. We have to listen to all parties and analyse coolly what’s happened.’ Putting a brave face on it perhaps, but this is a story which should have legs.

On the pitch, as well as Independiente’s win over Huracán, Central took an early lead against Atlético Tucumán through Guillermo Burdisso, and led for most of the match. Fabio Escobar levelled the match with just under quarter-of-an-hour to play, though, meaning that having missed out on going fifth in the Apertura table, Central might now find themselves in the relegation zone in the Promedio table by the end of the weekend, should Gimnasia beat Argentinos on Monday night.

Friday’s goals:

Central (blue & yellow stripes) vs Atlético Tucumán (sky blue & white stripes)
Independiente (red) vs Huracán (white)