Deportivo Pereira’s crisis deepened on Friday after the club announced it would field its U-20 team for the Betplay League’s 19th matchday against Medellín. The decision comes after the professional squad refused to play, citing the club’s failure to fully settle its outstanding labor debts.
The club, already under scrutiny by the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Labor for its severe financial turmoil, claimed it had paid some backlogged months, 50% of required bonuses, and was “up to date on 98% of the payroll, with only the month of October pending.” Despite these assurances, the first-team players proceeded with their protest.
The Colombian Association of Professional Footballers (Acolfutpro) immediately filed a new complaint, accusing the club of ongoing non-compliance. “Pereira continues to default, mocks the Ministry of Labor, and competes with youth players who lack professional contracts or social security,” the association stated, specifying that unpaid obligations include October salaries, payroll taxes, and other labor-related payments.
Acolfutpro also argued that by using its youth squad, Pereira “compromises the integrity of the competition,” especially as Medellín is seeking a crucial sporting advantage in the final phase of the championship. The association directed criticism at the league’s governing body, Dimayor, asking, “What credibility does an entity have that tolerates and endorses non-compliance and manipulation?”
Adding to the club’s woes, the Territorial Directorate of Risaralda this week launched a disciplinary administrative investigation against Deportivo Pereira for defying a suspension of activities order issued on October 30. “Despite the administrative order, the club is not abiding by it,” confirmed territorial director Andrés Piedrahita Gutiérrez. “Therefore, we will immediately initiate the sanctions investigation and formulate the respective charges.”
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