A South American club is working through a registration issue that has left its central defender unavailable for the first leg, although officials remain hopeful he will be cleared in time for the return fixture.
Juan Martin Aiello, the institution’s Secretary of Professional Football, said the decision followed legal requirements communicated by the continent’s football authorities. Those conditions prevented the defender’s registration from being approved for the immediate match.
The club has not abandoned its efforts to resolve the case and believes the player could become eligible for the second leg, giving the side a potential defensive option later in the tie.
