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The Argentine soccer federation suspended the start of its championships after failing to persuade broadcasters to increase payments to show matches on television.

The Football Association of Argentina’s executive committee voted unanimously last night to postpone all its soccer competitions, according to a statement posted on the association’s Web site.

“We think the amounts offered are not in line with what soccer is worth,” AFA President Julio Grondona told reporters. “We have to wait. We are defending the teams’ resources.”

Cable operators have rejected the federation’s demands that they pay 12 pesos ($3.1) for each of the 5 million subscribers to pay-television in Argentina, Critica de la Argentina reported today, without explaining how it obtained the information.

“The clubs don’t have the resources according to their needs,” Luis Segura, president of Argentinos Juniors, told reporters last night.

The demand for increased television income comes at a time when Argentina’s soccer teams are grappling with financial concerns. Grondona yesterday met with Ricardo Echegaray, head of the country’s tax agency, to discuss how clubs can pay tax debts which the Critica newspaper says have swelled to 300 million pesos.

An e-mailed statement from the tax agency said a plan has been agreed whereby the clubs will repay the money in 120 installments at a monthly interest rate of 0.75 percent.

(Source: Bloomberg)