Chilean football in crisis as Segovia ousted

Chilean football faced a crisis at the top on Tuesday after Jorge Segovia’s election as president of the country’s football federation (ANFP) was ruled illegal.

The Spanish businessman took over the post three weeks ago, defeating sitting president Harold Mayne-Nicholls who was seeking a second term of office.

But Segovia was on Tuesday told to step aside after the ANFP invalidated his appointment, citing a conflict of interest as several businesses run by the owner of Chilean side Union Espanola are under contract with the federation.

The ANFP’s decision could pave the way for Marcelo Bielsa to make a surprise return as Chile coach.

The Argentinian quit his post after Segovia’s election over Mayne-Nicholls on November 4 by 28 votes to 22.

Bielsa, who qualified Chile for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, had supported Mayne-Nicholls in the vote, saying: “The day that Harold is no longer in charge is the day I quit this job.”

It was Mayne-Nicholls, a 46-year-old journalist and member of FIFA, who helped recruit Bielsa in July 2008 and renewed his contract after the 2010 World Cup, a tournament Chile had last appeared in 1998.

In South Africa Chile won their opening two games, against Honduras and Switzerland, were beaten by Spain and, after making it to the second round, were eliminated by Brazil.

One of the key issues leading up to the election has been the sharing of profits from television rights. The top flight clubs, the majority of whom support Segovia, are calling for a bigger share.

Segovia, who has denounced what he termed the personal campaign against him, has called for an extraordinary meeting of the ANFP reuniting all the clubs to discuss his ousting.