Sport Ancash will be unable to play the Copa Movistar 2018 after the FPF announced to them that the TAS rejected their appeal to return to the Peruvian first division. The decision comes one month late.
The "Green Threat", currently led by Pepe Mallqui, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) after the Justice Commission of the ADFP rejected their request to be recognized as the winner against Academia Cantolao in 2016, a match that determined the team that would ascend to the top division of local soccer.
The conflict arose due to irregularities in the registration of foreign players Leandro Martin and Jefferson Collazos in the squad that was under the guidance of Carlos Silvestri at that time. They won 2-0, securing their spot in the Descentralizado 2017.
With the rejection from the TAS, Sport Ancash has no possibility of returning to the first division and will have to settle for playing the Copa Peru, where they will have to win the championship to achieve the long-awaited promotion.