The leagues of Colombia and Ecuador were the protagonists of very controversial scenes. Two teams were forced to compete with seven players while the rest were infected. Organizers fear the calendar more than the coronavirus
Photo: JUAN AUGUSTO CARDONA / Getty Images
In the last week a couple of cases that question the priorities of the federations before the various problems that plague clubs in all leagues in the world. The Golden Eagles of Colombia and Aucas of Ecuador were forced to participate in their respective matches with seven players on the court.
The first case was framed within the eighteenth date of the Colombian tournament . The Antioquia team was forced to play in inferior conditions, otherwise it would be sanctioned . The game postcard clearly marked the differences between the two teams; on the one hand, Boyacá Chicó with all his players on the court and a full bench of substitutes; on the other, seven players on the court, of which two were goalkeepers and no players on the bench.
On Sunday, Colombian club Aguilas Doradas fielded seven players after 16 players tested positive for COVID – 19.
They held their opponents scoreless for 57 minutes.
The match ended in a 3-0 loss in the 80 th minute after an injury put them under the minimum required players. pic.twitter.com/Hq9PETnb1D
– B / R Football (@brfootball) April 12, 1200
The club led by Francesco Stifano I had 18 positive cases in your campus . The golden institution asked twice that the match be suspended, but this was rejected by the League and they were even forced to play not to receive “severe penalties”.
The issued argument by the president of Colombian Professional Soccer was sustained in the agreements prior to the tournament. Fernando Jaramillo was blunt in stating that it is not feasible for the championship that matches are postponed. “ The rule is that a team has to present itself, with at least seven players . It is not ideal from any point of view, but it is what we agreed in the assembly. I know the pressure that exists in pandemic circumstances (…) but a championship would not be viable if each team looks for an excuse to postpone matches ”, he declared.
🇨🇴 Madness in Colombia as Águilas Doradas are forced to start their game with the bare minimum of SEVEN players!
With 22 squad members out with coronavirus or injury, the depleted line-up protested with banners reading ‘life first’ and ‘fair play.’ pic.twitter.com/bXYtiYNhO8
– FotMob (@FotMob) April 12, 2021
Things of chance or destiny did what days later a similar case occurred, but in another country. The Aucas of Ecuador played the eighth day of the Professional League with seven players on the court , against Barcelona.
Nevertheless, this match only lasted 17 minutes, after Johan Lara suffered an injury which forced the main referee to suspend the match. Aucas did not have the minimum number of players on the field.
If you want to see something unusual on Fanatiz, Ecuador’s Aucas just kicked off with 7 players due to Covid absences . https://t.co/8JDE1WRNTC
– Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) April 12, 2021
The capital team asked to reschedule the game, but neither LigaPro nor Barcelona gave a positive response to this request.
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION pic.twitter.com/kO1sQBUxV6
– SD Aucas Oficial (@ Aucas 45) April 12, 1200
Without a doubt, despite attempts to resume world competitions, Covid – 18 is a latent variable that conditions the matches . Postponing matches makes calendars that are already full of games very complicated. Apparently, football adopted a famous phrase linked to entertainment: “ The show must go on “, but is worth considering whether see to seven players in their area, while the opponent thrashes it, it is really a good show.
