The 1948 Argentine Primera División was the 57th season of top-flight professional football in Argentina, organized by the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA). The season began on April 18 and ended on December 12, 1948. It featured 16 teams competing in a double round-robin format (30 matches per team), with two points awarded for a win and one for a draw.
Overview
The 1948 season was marked by a players' strike demanding better working conditions. As a result, relegations were suspended until the conflict was resolved. Although the championship continued normally, the Ministry of Labour ruled that the maximum salary for football players would be mn$ 1,500 (1,500 Argentine pesos moneda nacional). In response, several prominent players emigrated in search of better opportunities, most notably to Colombia, which was not affiliated with FIFA at the time. Among the notable footballers who left were Adolfo Pedernera, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Pipo Rossi, Antonio Sastre, René Pontoni, and Julio Cozzi.
Gimnasia y Esgrima (La Plata) was promoted to the Primera División for this season, while no teams were relegated.
Champions
Club Atlético Independiente won its fifth league title (third in the professional era), securing the championship one matchday before the end of the season.
Top Goalscorer
Benjamín Santos of Rosario Central was the top goalscorer of the season with 21 goals.
Final Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independiente | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 65 | 42 | +23 | 41 |
| 2 | River Plate | 30 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 37 |
| 3 | Estudiantes (LP) | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 63 | 45 | +18 | 36 |
| 4 | Racing | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 68 | 45 | +23 | 36 |
| 5 | Newell's Old Boys | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 54 | 37 | +17 | 32 |
| 6 | San Lorenzo | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 32 |
| 7 | Vélez Sársfield | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 32 |
| 8 | Boca Juniors | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 52 | 47 | +5 | 30 |
| 9 | Platense | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 57 | 65 | −8 | 30 |
| 10 | Huracán | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 29 |
| 11 | Chacarita Juniors | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 28 |
| 12 | Rosario Central | 30 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 74 | 73 | +1 | 27 |
| 13 | Banfield | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 54 | 67 | −13 | 24 |
| 14 | Tigre | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 56 | 81 | −25 | 23 |
| 15 | Lanús | 30 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 38 | 57 | −19 | 23 |
| 16 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 30 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 51 | 78 | −27 | 20 |
Aftermath
The players' strike of 1948 had lasting effects on Argentine football. The exodus of star players to Colombia weakened the domestic league in the short term but highlighted the growing tensions between players and club administrators over wages and working conditions. The dispute was eventually resolved, but the salary cap imposed by the Ministry of Labour remained a point of contention.
