Learn the story of the end of Paulo Autuori’s era at the helm of the Peru team and the responsibility that the Congress of the Republic had to blast this process.
Eighteen years ago, Peru witnessed one of the greatest excesses and demonstrations of populism in the Congress of the Republic. Parliament accused the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) of irregularities in the contract of the coach of the Peru national team Paulo Authori. This nonsense was taken as an affront by the Brazil coach, who handed in his resignation as coach days after appearing at the Palace of Parliament.
How did Paulo Autuori get summoned to the congress?
Those were the first days of April 2005. The Peruvian team had drawn 2-2 at home with Ecuador at the Nacional de Lima and, for many, were aiming for qualification World Germany 2006 it was very far away. Amid a hectic environment, a subpoena from Congress reached Paulo Autuori.
A commission of inquiry decided to investigate the FPF and as part of that investigation they appointed Autuori to Parliament. The national coach ignored this first call. However, a second date came along which was not ignored by the Brazilian coach. Thus, on April 22, Autuori appeared before the then Congressman from Aprista Victor Manuel Noriega.
The shameful act consisted of a series of questions related directly to the coach’s salary and the contract he had signed with the FPF, which was part of a strictly private agreement. During the questionnaire, Autuori chose to remain silent and not answer any questions from the Aprista representative, but not before giving his opinion.
Victor Manuel Noriega. Photo: Congress of Peru
“I feel it is unfair that I should be subpoenaed for questioning about a private relationship such as my service contract. It is a criminal offense for me to have been subpoenaed in this investigation. The contract with the FPF meets international standards,” he said. .
Three days after its presentation in Congress, on April 25th, Autuori gave the media a press conference in La Videna. This conversation with the media began with a report on what happened during his appointment to Parliament. Later, around 5:40 p.m., he handed in his resignation as coach of the Peru team.
With 13 contested appointments, the bicolor was seventh in qualifying with 14 points. After Autuori’s departure, Freddy Ternero was signed, who could only add four more units and ended up in ninth place, seven behind the consolation place. The Brazilian, meanwhile, was signed by his country’s Sao Paulo and won the Libertadores and the Club World Cup that year.