Official: Sergio Batista out as coach of Argentina

Posted Wednesday, July 27, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Argentina has dispensed with the services of coach Sergio Batista, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has announced.

Batista's future at the helm of the South American giants had been a huge source of conjecture following the team's failure to go beyond the quarterfinals at Copa America while hosting the competition.

Argentina was ousted from the competition after losing to eventual winners Uruguay on penalties, a result that followed two draws and one victory in the group stage.

Batista met with the AFA's Executive Committee earlier on Monday at the association's headquarters in Ezeiza and it was decided to cut the coach's time short. AFA's spokesman Cherquis Bialo confirmed the decision during a press conference.

"I would like to inform you that after a cordial and friendly telephone conversation between Sergio Batista and (AFA president) Julio Grondona, Mr. Batista left the decision to the selection committee," he explained.

"The committee has decided to rescind its contract with Batista and suspend the friendly match with Romania to consider who will take on the duties of the national team. There are no deadlines to decide a successor; the decision will be made in time."

Batista, 48, took over from Diego Maradona after the 2010 World Cup finals initially on a temporary basis, but landed a permanent role just three months into the job.

Bialo insisted that "Batista wasn't fired" and when asked if the tactician would be given compensation on his contract that is due to expire in 2014, he stated: "It is an administrative matter and I cannot comment on it."

Former Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella, Paraguay boss Gerardo Martino and Carlos Bianchi, formerly with Boca Juniors and Atletico Madrid, have been linked to fill the vacancy.