Controversy in the BetPlay League: DIM did not show up due to an ‘armed stoppage’; however, Dimayor validated the WO and gave the match to Jaguares

Colombian soccer players criticized the situation experienced by the Sports Independent Medellin (DIM)who decided not to travel to Montería for their league game on Saturday against Jaguares due to the security crisis caused by the “armed strike” by the Clan del Golfo and, consequently, lost the match for not playing.

The images of the Jaguares soccer players standing next to the referees in a practically unoccupied stadium and in which there were only soldiers and police to guarantee security caused stupor among the players and fans of the different teams, who criticized the pressure exerted to will play the match.

Precisely the DIM, directed by the Uruguayan Julio Comesaña, regretted that the Major Division of Colombian Soccer (Dimayor), organizer of the event, rejected the two requests made for the match to be postponed and argued that “no match is more important than the integrity of people”.

”The leadership of the institution established direct communication with the Presidency of Dimayor on Friday when evaluating the situation in Montería to agree on the best decisions for those involved in the party, receiving a negative response from Dimayor, which not only refused to postpone the date, but also Jaguares FC did not accept the change of venue,” the club said in a statement.

Along these lines, the organizers of the tournament remained in the position that the local authorities and the Police promised “to provide the guarantees to carry out the event” and even offered the club a charter flight to get to Montería for the game, for which they had to make a land trip through roads in the department of Córdoba, detailed the DIM.

However, the Powerful pointed out that given the denial of postponement, the club preferred to “provide its employees with the optimal conditions that allow them to carry out their work and safeguard the integrity of people.”

In Montería, capital of the Caribbean department of Córdoba, shops were closed on Friday and schools and universities had to cancel classes due to the tension.

The “armed strike” of the Clan del Golfo, which began last Thursday and will last until Tuesday, is carried out in retaliation for the extradition to the US of its top boss, Dairo Antonio Úsuga, alias “Otoniel”, last Wednesday .

This group has restricted trade, the movement of vehicles on the highways and the mobility of people, threatening attacks on those who travel along the roads, even if they go in caravans escorted by the Army, in various departments of Colombia, where tens of thousands of people live days of anxiety.