Seven Peruvian teams refused to start the championship

The two-time champions in League 1, the Alliance of Limaand six other soccer teams from Peru They refused to compete on the opening day of the national championship this weekend after the announcement that it had been closed, they announced Thursday night in a statement.

He Alianza Lima, Club FBC Melgar, Sport Boys Association, Club Deportivo Municipal, Deportivo Binacional, Club Cienciano and Club Cusco FC They decided to refuse to play after Wednesday’s announcement that the League would continue without spectators due to security measures.

He League 1 Tournament Opening It started this weekend behind closed doors after two days where the championship was suspended due to the anti-government demonstrations that have plagued everyone. Peru since December 11 and a total of 66 deaths.

“We are saying that we will not join League 1 2023 until Peruvian Football Federation remove the irregular precautionary measure it was able to impose arbitrarily and illegally by going to the Judiciary and endangering the present and future of Peruvian soccer,” the teams cited in the statement reported.

They stated that playing without an audience was “attempts” against the economies of the clubs, which have a “very important” source of revenue in the sale of tickets for their institutional purposes and work plans for short, medium and long term.

They consider that the television broadcast and private interests have been prioritized, without considering the future claims and returns that they have to assume in front of the fans who already have their tickets for the weekend .

The clubs announced that the president of the FPF, Agustin Lozano, “It does not represent the interests of the clubs accordingly” and for this reason they demand “his immediate resignation from office.”

“We thank the Government for the initiative to support sport and professional football as a major element of society and in this line we hope that it calls all the sports clubs and that we work together to unlock the judicial, institutional and operational issues for the imminent resumption of the League 1 championship,” the statement said.

At this point, he refers to the meeting of the prime minister this Wednesday with the president of the Peruvian Football Federation and the national coach, Juan Reynosothen they announced that the local soccer league will start playing this weekend without spectators in the stadiums.

“The Government will grant permits. Initially, the stadiums will be closed this weekend and, starting next week, we will review the show for all Peruvians,” Otárola said in statements to local media this Wednesday.

The President of the Council of Ministers assured that the Peruvian National Police (PNP) “will give all the guarantees” and will “certainly” examine the areas where social conflict has been greatest.

At this point, Otárola He said that the idea of ​​the Government and the FPF is that “Peruvians can have access to sport and professional soccer will be reactivated like all activities in the country.”

“We must definitely support our team in Peru, which needs to see the players, have training sessions and, above all, call on all the professional soccer teams to contribute to this integration process -with peace in the country through sports. “, concluded the prime minister, before avoiding answering questions related to politics.