MEXICO -- América remains undefeated as the overall leader. The relegation battle continues to heat up between Veracruz, Lobos, and Gallos. In the midst of what is really important, which are the results, a possibility that would be a turning point in Mexican soccer is being weaved: Ascenso teams continue their protests and seriously consider stopping the league if owners continue with the idea of abolishing relegation.
From these lines, I mentioned that the team captains had agreed to protest, which they have done in the last two weeks. However, the dialogue has escalated because they will seek to defend their sources of employment by any means necessary. Remember that from this space, we warned about the referees' strike that no one believed until the referees decided to say 'enough' to the irregularities they saw with Héctor González Iñarritu, who prioritized the interests of soccer federations over the guild's interests.
There was confusion over the weekend. Many believed that the reason the teams did not touch the ball at the initial whistle was in protest of the salaries that the Murciélagos team had not fully covered, which is false. It was as a protest against the plan to automatically remove promotion and relegation in the Liga Bancomer.
By the way, I have been assured that the pressure on Murciélagos has been so intense that, in a fit of desperation, two players confessed to being threatened with the franchise being dissolved and being told 'do what you want,' because the conditions in which the players work are not the most favorable economically.
On Friday, negotiations went on for hours to resolve the issue and to travel to Zacatecas to face the Mineros. This week, the debts must be paid off or there will be consequences.
The message that Ascenso players seek to convey, beyond unity, is not to underestimate the footballers and the Mexican Footballers Association (AMFpro), as many have criticized the fact that all the support comes through tweets or statements without taking action.
The unity is such that several captains assure me that the league stoppage is accompanied by the support of their colleagues in the First Division because they stand in solidarity with their Ascenso counterparts, an aspect that would be a strong blow to the national soccer executives.
We will have to wait and see if the project comes to a definitive halt, which would be a triumph for the players in the so-called silver category.
More problems in Tampico
If you thought that Javier San Román's departure from Jaiba Brava ended there, you are mistaken. Everyone knows about the dispute between Alejandro Irarragorri and Javier's father, Fernando San Román.
Both are partners in the Tampico team, but the second will seek to keep the team. There is a precedent of conflicts between these two individuals, but it is surely not the last chapter of a struggle that has already involved top executives such as Decio de María, president of the FMF, who introduced them.
Is Darwin Quintero already in MLS?
The days go by and as I expressed in a tweet, time puts everyone in their place. So far, Darwin Quintero remains a player for América. I never understood why Miguel Herrera stated that they did not want to use the player because he could leave the institution and then put him on the field.
I insist, I do not rule out that the move to MLS will happen in the future (that's how negotiations work), but I don't know why they are discrediting me by calling me a "gossip" and saying that I like to "invent" things if nothing has been finalized with Darwin so far. As I said, time puts everyone in their place, and so far, after several days, I am proven right. Or are they also going to tell me that I invented the news about Oswaldo Alanís going to Getafe? Well, at least the player has already admitted that he will leave Chivas next season. Getafe? Time puts everyone in their place.