New era begins in Argentine club football, for now

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - A new era of Argentine club football is about to begin.

It could also be a very short era.

An expanded first division starts play on Friday with 30 teams, and the season will run to November with only one champion being crowned.

This is a radical change for a league that, since 1991, has played a split season - like many Latin American countries - and last season featured 20 teams.

But not so fast.

Despite the radical changes, the Argentine Football Association has reserved the right to scrap the whole thing and write it off as a one-season experiment; or tinker and make more changes.

The plans have been in flux for months. It was the brainchild of former AFA president Julio Grondona, who died in July, and has been modified by new president Luis Segura.

The change stems partly from the relegation in 2011 of River Plate. The larger league all but guarantees that Argentina's wealthiest teams will never go down again, and it could secure their dominance against weaker opponents.

But it also creates competitive mismatches with a small club such as Crucero del Norte from Argentina's northeast, lining up against River Plate, Boca Juniors, and defending champion Racing Club.

Racing begins its defense this weekend against Rosario Central with few changes from the team that took the first-division title in December - its first league championship in 13 years. The main loss is midfielder Ricardo Centurion, who has moved to Brazil club Sao Paulo. He is replaced by Marcos Acuna.

Racing has tried to add depth, saving top-scorer Diego Milito when possible for the Copa Libertadores.

River Plate, which won the Copa Sudamericana in December - Latin America's No. 2 club tournament - is another favorite.

River, which was edged by Racing for the league title, has added midfielder Gonzalo Martinez from Huracan, and Uruguayan Camilo Mayada from Uruguay club Danubio.

Boca Juniors has gone outside Argentina for talent, taking forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo on loan from Inter Milan.

The Argentina-born Osvaldo is an Italy international, and joined Inter on loan from England's Southampton, but was involved in a public spat with strike partner Mauro Icardi. He was also suspended by the club after he disappeared for two days without permission.