A little over 15 years ago, a CAS verdict declared him innocent Claudio Pizarro of the events that took place at Hotel Golf Los Incas during South Africa 2010 qualifiers.
The South Africa 2010 qualifier will be remembered as one of the worst – if not the worst – campaign for a Peru team. This qualification process was characterized by the most media case of indiscipline in recent decades: the scandal surrounding the Hotel Golf Los Incas. The embarrassing incident resulted in the suspension of four Bicolor soccer players: Jefferson Farfán, Andrés Mendoza, Santiago Acasiete and Claudio Pizarro.
Claudio Pizarro and Santiago Acasiete were two of those involved in the Golf Los Incas scandal. Photo: GLR
The last of them was punished for being the captain of that national representative and for failing to prevent the alleged celebrations between the players. The sanction was not accepted by the “Bombardero de los Andes” and he decided to appeal. The forward even reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS, for its acronym in French), a story we’ll detail below.
The Gulf Los Incas scandal
On November 18, 2007, the Peruvian team played Brazil at home on Day 3 at the Monumental Stadium Qualification South Africa 2010. The result, valuable at the time, was an occasion for celebrations and celebrations within the Blanquirroja.
Those involved took advantage of the fact that coach José Guillermo “Chemo” Del Solar was traveling to Cusco to pick up the selected players, who at the climax were preparing for the next clash against Ecuador in Quito. This alleged killing spree became public because journalist Jaime Bayly – who was staying at the same hotel as the Peru team – revealed the details of his Sunday programme.
‘Chemo’ Del Solar and Claudio Pizarro’s relationship collapsed after what happened at Hotel Golf Los Incas. Photo: GLR
punishment for those involved
After an intensive investigation by the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF), the four parties involved were sanctioned in March 2008. Pizarro, Farfán, Acasiete and Mendoza were suspended from the national team for 18 months and fined $20,000, which they donated to the National Institute of Children’s Health.
A few months later, the suspension would be reduced to the first three: from 18 to three months and the fine from $20,000 to $10,000. The only one who didn’t accept this penalty was Claudio Pizarro. The striker maintained his innocence at all times and appealed to the CAS to prove it.
“Chemo” del Solar led the Peruvian team from 2007 to 2010. Photo: GLR
The Court of Arbitration for Sport declared Pizarro innocent in April 2009. The verdict favorable to the “Bomber” exempted the player from the fine imposed by the FPF. In paragraph 146, the CAS noted that neither party could provide evidence of indiscipline at Hotel Golf Los Incas.