The Argentinian Football Association and the government have agreed terms on the termination of the Fútbol para Todos contract as stakeholders close in on agreements that will result in the return of domestic action.
Key officials from clubs and the AFA have agreed on the offer of 530 million pesos (€31.6m/$33.9m) made on January 26 as compensation for dissolving the government-backed FPT programme.
Under FPT, otherwise known as Football for All, the Argentinian government paid to ensure the top-tier Primera División was shown on free-to-air television. The FPT contract was due to run until September 1, 2019, but has been cancelled by the government.
The Clarin.com website said the government will make an advance payment of 180 million pesos, with the remainder being paid next month.
At the meeting a target of February 24 was outlined for a return of domestic football in Argentina, a date that will coincide with meetings designed to lay out the future for the game.
Bids under a new broadcast rights tender are to be opened and analysed on February 20. Intellectual asset management company Consor last month emerged as a surprise contender for the rights after submitting an offer that is reportedly higher than those already on the table.
Consor is said to have put forward an offer worth 5.4 billion pesos, while international sports broadcaster ESPN is offering 3.2 billion pesos and a joint proposal from US media companies Fox and Turner is valued at three billion pesos.
The February 24 meeting will see the successful rights-holder chosen, along with FPT being formally dissolved. The meeting will also introduce new governance statutes for the AFA and vote on the proposed Superliga competition that is set to replace the Primera División in August.
The new broadcast partner will begin showing games in August, when the new season begins. Until the middle of this year, the current system will remain in place with games being broadcast via free-to-air and basic cable, primarily through El Trece and Telefé.
Clarin.com noted the February 24 target for the return of football may be ambitious, adding March 3 could be a more realistic start point.