Quito -
LigaPro determined in its Council of Presidents held this Saturday that the numbers of the clubs for their series A and B tournaments will be maintained, as well as the promotion and relegation system.
With a majority decision, the delegates dismissed a proposal made in December 2019 that considered increasing the number of clubs in series A to 18.
During an hour and 40 minutes, the structure of the 2021 tournament was discussed, with three proposals that included increasing the number of clubs and eliminating promotions and relegations. The majority vote decided to maintain 16 clubs for series A and 10 clubs for series B for the next year.
Regarding promotions, for 2021 two clubs will be promoted from series B, which will be completed with the two lowest ranked clubs from series A. Similarly, series B will be completed with the two winners from the second division, which in turn will include the two teams that are relegated from B.
"We are aware that next year the economic revenues will be reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which implies that some teams will face difficult times in their finances. That's why we believe it is appropriate to have tournaments in 2021 as they have been until this year, with 16 clubs in series A and 10 teams in series B," said Morales, a proposal accepted with 21 votes, with the possibility that for 2022 "we have a Council of Presidents to make decisions."
The motion won with a vote of 21 out of the 25 clubs present in the teleconference. The decision also recorded two abstentions and two votes in favor of the proposal to increase the number of clubs in series A to 18. Club 9 de Octubre did not present delegates.
The winning proposal had opposing voices, mainly due to legal issues as Jaime Estrada, president of Manta, a club from series B, explained.
"I agree in part with the proposal, but the legal criteria are valid. It should be justified with a championship restructuring. We are aware that things have changed due to the pandemic, but a new scheme should be presented and the sustainability of Ecuadorian football should be sought," said the director of the tuna team, who abstained from the vote, as did Liga de Portoviejo.
About the legal aspects of changing a previously adopted resolution, Angelo Sereni, president of Atlético Porteño, emphasized.
"I believe there is a legality defect or something not very clear because the ideal thing would be for the option (of change) to be implemented if there is a holistic change in the tournament due to the coronavirus, that is why I vote to maintain the previously planned option, but I want to make it clear that if Atlético Porteño is harmed by this change, it will not go to any court," said the director, something that he requested to be included in the minutes of the meeting. (D)