The Clausura is defined and the incentives arrive with Christmas | OPINION

The ‘Chucho’ Chávez has made transparent something that is not new: the delivery of money to certain teams by third parties so that they beat others. What was previously discussed in clubs and newsrooms, generally between murmurs and laughter, the pink striker has made it public. “In Sport Boys – he said – we accept the incentives to win”. And as if he had just said a joke, he finished: “We are waiting for our Christmas.”

In the soccer planet receiving money to earn is not frowned upon. “It is not a bribe”, those who justify it are quick to point out, but rather an incentive for one club to make a greater effort and defeat another. In addition, they add, it allows economic relief to be given to players who belong to teams where the treasurers disappear with the end of the season. The intermediaries are usually the interested footballers themselves. And in some cases, the money comes out of their envelopes. The incentives aren’t just for cash-strapped players.

A few days ago, in “A radio pressure”, Carlos Galván recounted that when he played in Racing, in 1995, people from River approached to offer each one 7 thousand dollars. The mission was to beat Boca de Maradona and Beto Márcico. That afternoon, the ‘Black’ played alongside Gustavo Costas in the central defense of the Academy. They won 6-4. After the tie in 1990, perhaps the most disappointing play by the team was that of the United States 1994. In the last game, against Paraguay, they arrived without having scored a single point. The Guarani, on the other hand, needed a win to go to the playoffs. That afternoon, at the National, Popovic’s team said goodbye with a 2-2 win that put a little makeup on the disaster. Chilavert’s men returned to Asunción muttering that ours played with encouragement. Many still believe that one of the main reasons for the 0-6 against Argentina in 1978 was that some selected players were bribed. What few talk about is that before the game it was rumored that our team had received offers from Brazil to get a result that favored their interests.

A FIFA official letter on match-fixing prohibits this type of practice. It does not differentiate between bribes or incentives, it refers to “anyone who tries to conspire or actually conspires to influence the course or result of a match in a manner contrary to sports ethics.” The site El Confidencial reports that a ruling by the TAS, in 2014, already indicated that “incentives threaten the integrity and cleanliness of the competition.” Custom is not enough to legitimize a fact, even more so in a medium as commercialized as soccer, today dangerously quasi governed by bets. It is time to remember that this sport that we like so much is a game and must be governed by the correct and transparent compliance with its rules. As simple and difficult as that.