Argentinian player criticizes South American soccer authorities

Argentinian soccer player Patricio Toranzo strongly criticized South American soccer authorities on Sunday.

He also asked them to take responsibility for the recent road accident involving his current team, Argentina's Club Atletico Huracan, in Venezuela.

"Someone has to take responsibility. Today we are alive but someone will have to pay because this was not free," warned the Argentinian player, who underwent the partial amputation of three of his toes on his left foot after the bus the team were travelling in overturned on route to Caracas.

Toranzo, 33, returned home on Saturday to continue his rehabilitation after being operated on once in Caracas and twice in Buenos Aires.

"It was serious, we are all alive but it was something we all suffered from during the three or four days we were in Venezuela," said Toranzo in reference to the number of transport irregularities.

While talking to local radio station La Red, Toranzo spoke about the accident that took place on Feb. 10 when the brakes on the bus that was transporting the Huracan team to Caracas airport stopped working. This led to the bus overturning in a mountainous region.

In the hospital in Caracas "I was very afraid they were going to cut off my foot. There were many problems but they looked after me excellently," added the midfielder.

"Now I want to play again. The first thing I thought about (after the accident) is that I want to continue playing soccer," said Toranzo.

"God is so great that he left my big toe and the little one (healthy) (on the left foot). This is where the fifth metatarsal goes which is where the support comes from. If this had been damaged then it would have hindered my ability to play," added the player.

Toranzo thanked the large amount of phone calls and messages of support he had received from the world of soccer from stars such as Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Javier Zanetti.

"The messages are all equally important to me ... However, I have not received any phone calls from Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) leaders," complained Toranzo.

Conmebol organize the Copa de Libertadores de America, the tournament that Huracan were participating in when the accident happened in Venezuela.

The day before the accident, Huracan eliminated Club Caracas in the tournament, qualifying for the group phase.

In reference to Venezuela, "I saw a destroyed country but despite the shortages they have, they looked after us in the best way possible," said Toranzo.

Toranzo began his soccer career with Argentinian side River Plate and since then has been with various clubs including China's Shanghai Shenhua in 2013, the previous team before returning to Argentina. Endi