Uncertainty is what is happening in the realm of national soccer a few days before the start of the 2023 League 1 after eight clubs, led by Universitario, Alianza Lima, and Melgar de Arequipa, showed their dissatisfaction with the new agreement reached by the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) regarding television rights. As a form of rejection, these teams have announced that they will not participate in the national championship —which starts this Saturday, January 21— until a consensus is reached with the highest entity of Peruvian soccer.
YOU CAN SEE: FPF responds after press conference held by clubs that decided not to participate in the League
Under this premise, various fans of the clubs involved in the opposition to the new FPF statutes wonder what will happen to their teams after this decision.
What will happen to the clubs that will not participate in the League 1?
If they continue with their intention of not participating in the League 1 until they can freely choose their television contracts, severe penalties could be imposed on each of the eight clubs involved.
According to article 116 of the 2023 League 1 regulations, if a team does not show up to the field of play on a matchday, they will lose by walkover (W.O.) with a scoreline of 3-0. In that sense, if this happens again in the second round, said club will automatically be relegated.
“If a club fails to comply with the schedule by omitting to show up to play on two matchdays, whether consecutive or alternating, they will automatically be relegated to the immediate lower division, lose by walkover (W.O.) their remaining matches and the corresponding points, awarding their rivals a score of three (3) to zero (0) in their favor,” reads the document.
Clubs would be relegated to the second division and would not be able to return to the first division for three years
In addition, the FPF regulations warn that if a club is relegated through this process, they will not be able to return to the first division for a period of three years.
“The club that is relegated will be prevented from returning to Liga 1 for the following three (3) years. Their return to Liga 1 is also subject to the prior payment of pending fines, compliance with imposed sanctions, as well as regaining the right to promotion in accordance with the current provisions in this regard by the FPF,” they explain.
Position of the eight clubs that will not participate in the League 1
Ricardo Bettocchi, administrator of Melgar, stated that the contracts with the Consortium were signed before the current statute was approved and this contract has preference clauses.
“We want to play but we cannot play under the current conditions. If there is no broadcast, there is no television income and we cannot guarantee salary payments,” said the director of Melgar.
Meanwhile, Óscar Romero, president of the ADFP, indicated that the decision taken by the eight clubs not to participate in the Betsson League 1 until the lifting of the provisional measure imposed by the FPF is correct, so it is not viable for the tournament to be played without these teams.
YOU CAN SEE: Alianza, ‘U’, and 6 clubs announce that they will not participate in the League 1 until the provisional measure is lifted
Which clubs will not participate in the League 1?
The teams that are against the provisional measure obtained by the FPF to suspend the effects of contracts signed with the Consorcio Fútbol Perú (GolPerú) are Alianza Lima, Universitario de Deportes, Cienciano, Cusco FC, FBC Melgar, Deportivo Municipal, Deportivo Binacional, and Sport Boys.