April 24, 2002

BUENOS AIRES, April 24 (AFP) -- Argentina football federationpresident Julio Grondona has claimed Marcelo Bielsa will definitely coach the national side at the World Cup though he agreed there was a financial problem.

Bielsa has already called on the federation to find a solution to his contractual dispute as soon as possible and insisted that the four-year deal he signed in 1998, which pays him 70,000 dollars a month, be respected.

Grondona, who admitted the problem had not be solved, nevertheless told Argentina's press: "If it was said that Bielsa would not be in charge at the World Cup it was because it was read in the press.

"If I say he will be coach, no one takes any notice, but if someone says the opposite just one time, it is believed and a rumour spreads. I have been experiencing this for the last 50 years.

He added: "Bielsa will coach Argentina at the World Cup."

When Bielsa signed his deal, the peso was about on a par with the dollar but since the collapse of the Argentinian economy, the federation want the salary to be paid in pesos which have sharply declined in value, meaning Bielsa would effectively receive roughly a third of the sum he agreed.

AFA Treasurer Hector Dominguez has said he hoped a solution could be found to ensure Bielsa remained in charge for the May 31 to June 30 finals in South Korea and Japan, where Argentina are one of the favourites.