Argentine FA Imposes New Rule: Young Players Leaving Clubs Illegally Barred from National Teams

The Executive Committee of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has decided to ban all underage players who leave their clubs illegally from joining national teams across all age categories.

The decision comes in response to what has become known as the "Caso Lucas Scarlato," where the young player reportedly sought to leave his club, River Plate, outside the established contractual frameworks. This incident has raised concerns among clubs regarding the protection of their rights in player development.

Under this new measure, any player who opts for what is termed a "legal escape," whether through legal guardianship or any other legal means, will be automatically excluded from national team rosters, even if they are among the most prominent rising talents.

The Argentine FA justifies this step as aiming to protect youth development clubs from losing their players without compensation and to ensure that transfers occur legally and in an organized manner. The decision is expected to generate significant debate between clubs and young players, as some believe it restricts international opportunities for promising talents.

This measure reflects the ongoing conflict between protecting club interests and young players' right to develop their careers, placing the future of many rising talents at stake under this new policy.