In 2008, Peruvian football was close to being banned from international competitions. In this note we tell you what happened and how it influenced FIFA’s decision to suspend domestic football.
It is not new to anyone that the atmosphere in Peruvian football is in turmoil. The troubles surrounding the television rights never end, and each side seems to be only pursuing its own advantage. In the last few hours, the prosecutor’s office has entered the lawsuit and announced an investigation against the President of the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF), Agustín Lozano. The allegations against the head of the national football association are coercion, criminal organization to the detriment of the professional clubs in the 1st league and extortion crimes.
With all of this, the situation seems to be turning ant-colored, and even the question of a possible suspension from FIFA to the FPF has arisen. This scenario is not unprecedented in our country, since in 2014 and 2008 it monopolized the front pages of the main sports media in Peru.
However, the most serious episode occurred in 2008, when this suspension came into effect – albeit temporarily. At the time, this measure was a reaction of the FPF and the Peruvian Institute of Sport (IPD). Arthur Holzmannthen head of the latter unit, decided not to recognize Manuel Burga as President of the FPF.
Manuel Burga was one of the most disliked figures of the first decade of this century. Photo: GLR
All of these situations arose because Woodman considered the elections, which saw Burga re-elected as FPF boss despite the huge rejection he had among the main players of our football, to be irregular.
What were the consequences of this temporary suspension?
The main consequence of this measure taken by FIFA was the eviction of the seat of the 2009 South American U-20 tournament from Peru. As if that wasn’t enough, the national teams’ participation in the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, being temporary, was well underway.
Frontis de la Videna. Photo: GLR
Also in the draw for these competitions, the Peruvian teams were not named as usual (Peru 1, Peru 2 and Peru 3), but as Vacant 1, Vacant 2 and Vacant 3. Luckily, months later, FIFA returned the decision, so the clubs and the Peruvian team returned to compete internationally.