Where is Argentina's focus?

 A trial of eight health workers charged with "homicide by negligence" over the death of Diego Maradona has been postponed from October until March, Argentine media reported on Thursday.

A court in San Isidro, a town on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, granted the request of three of the eight defendants to postpone for a second time the trial, originally scheduled for June 4 and due to start on Oct. 1.

The process will now begin on March 11, the Argentine newspaper La Nacion reported.

The footballing great, who led Argentina to a second World Cup title in 1986, died aged 60 in November 2020 from heart failure after undergoing brain surgery days earlier.

Among those charged in the death of the former Boca Juniors and Napoli player are his neurosurgeon, psychologist, psychiatrist and nurses, who could face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.

FIFA said on Wednesday it was opening an investigation into racist chants by Argentina players after they won the Copa America.

"FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into," a spokesperson for world football's governing body said.

They added: "FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials."

The chants were heard during a live video posted on social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from the team bus in the wake of the Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.

Some players, including 23-year-old Fernandez, sing a chant dating back to the 2022 World Cup final in which Argentina beat France.

The song targets France's star striker Kylian Mbappe among others and includes racist and homophobic insults.

Chelsea had earlier announced they had launched an internal disciplinary procedure against Fernandez over the incident.

Fernandez has apologised and the club said in a statement it had launched an "internal disciplinary procedure."

"Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable," it added.

"We acknowledge and appreciate our player's public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate."

Fernandez, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a Premier League record fee of £105 million ($136.8 million) in 2023, said in his apology: "The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words.

"I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations."

The French Football Federation (FFF) complained to FIFA about the chants on Monday.

FFF president Philippe Diallo "condemned with the greatest firmness the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against players of the France team".

France beat Argentina in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup.

Planes, trains, trucks and taxis ground to a halt in Argentina on Wednesday in a major one-day strike over President Javier Milei's austerity policies.

The unions called the protest over Milei's plans to privatize national flag carrier Aerolineas Argentinas and to denounce spiraling poverty levels since he took office late last year.

Over a million passengers were affected by the industrial action, which saw over 1,800 trains canceled, according to Trenes Argentinos, the state-owned rail operator in Buenos Aires.

Aerolineas Argentinas said that 263 flights had been affected, impacting around 27,700 passengers.

Metro drivers in Buenos Aires and ferry operators also took part in the strike, which saw activists block roads in parts of the country and some public sector workers also walk off the job.

The main bus drivers' union, which did not participate, said it would go on strike on Thursday.

"A significant section of the population is having a hard time," Pablo Moyano, a leader of the CGT, Argentina's main labor federation, told Radio 10.

He said the strike also aimed to defend the "sovereignty" of Argentina's transport sector and prevent state companies from being sold to foreign investors "for a few bucks."

Milei, who wielded a chainsaw on the campaign trail last year as a symbol of his plan to slash public spending, has cut energy and transport subsidies and thousands of public sector jobs.

His policies have produced Argentina's first budget surplus in 15 years but have also been blamed for plunging the country into a deep recession and driving the proportion of Argentines living in poverty up 11 points in six months to 52.9 percent.

And while inflation has slowed in recent months, it remains stubbornly high.

Yearly inflation stood at 209 percent in September.

An Argentine court on Tuesday authorized the transfer of football legend Diego Maradona's remains, at his daughters' request, from a cemetery to a mausoleum to be built for him in central Buenos Aires.

Maradona died in November 2020, aged 60, while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot, and after decades of battling addictions to cocaine and alcohol.

He was found dead in bed two weeks after going under the knife, in a rented house in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood where he was brought after being discharged from hospital.

He was found to have died of a heart attack.

His daughters had requested his remains be transferred to a monument that will be known as the "M10 Memorial."

The court that granted the request is also investigating possible negligence on the part of Maradona's medical team that may have led to his death.

Eager to strengthen their standing in the fiercely competitive South American World Cup qualifiers, Argentina will welcome a resurgent Bolivia in Buenos Aires on Wednesday (6:00 am, Bangladesh time), while an invigorated Brazil host bottom-placed Peru in Brasilia (6:45 am).

Reigning world champions Argentina remain top with 19 points, holding a three-point lead over Colombia, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela in their previous match, where Lionel Messi returned from injury.

On the other hand, Bolivia enter this fixture on a high, following a gritty 1-0 victory over Colombia. It marked their third consecutive win in the qualifiers, moving them up to sixth place. With a top-six finish guaranteeing a place at the 2026 World Cup, Bolivia are inching closer to their first finals appearance in nearly 30 years.

However, facing Argentina in Buenos Aires is a formidable challenge. Bolivia have historically struggled in Argentina, managing only one point in 11 previous visits, but their strong recent form suggests they will not go down easily against Lionel Scaloni's team who have conceded just eight goals in their last 20 qualifiers fixtures.

Brazil, meanwhile, will be aiming to build on their thrilling 2-1 comeback against Chile. Substitute Luiz Henrique was the hero, netting a dramatic 89th-minute winner to secure three vital points. After a run of disappointing performances, this win has breathed new life into Brazil's campaign, lifting the five-time champions to fourth in the standings with 13 points, two behind Uruguay.