Colombian soccer team Deportes Quindio faces the possibility of a 30-day suspension after failing to pay their players.
The director of sports-governing body Coldeportes Nacional, Jairo Clopatofsky, on Tuesday told press that Quindio was given five days to solve its internal problems before being hit with a suspension that would leave their season all but over.
Moreover, if Quindio get suspended and still haven’t solved the problems at the end of the 30 days, they would face further, more serious sanctions.
Quindio is one of five Colombian teams in trouble because of not paying their players.
Quindio captain Alejandro Otero explained that this case is important for all players in Colombia. “It is important for us to be calm and able to focus on the actual match results.”
Otero and his teammates pressurized Quindio’s board by refusing to play on the weekend. News of Quindio fielding its youth players led to great odds for opponents Millonarios, which ended up winning the match 5-0.
But Coldeportes’ approach does not necessarily get the support of all parties, as Colfútbol president Luis Bedoya criticized its decisions.
Ahead of Coldeportes’ most recent announcement, Bedoya said that rather than putting additional pressure on Quindio, the governing body should focus on providing possible solutions.
If Quindio get suspended, they would miss the games against Deportivo Cali, Deportes Tolima, Atletico Huila, Itagüi Ditaires, Deportivo Pereira, Atletico Nacional and Envigado. All those teams would likely be awarded three points.