Vignatti: Vélez offered match-fixing to avoid 2023 drop, we refused | OneFootball

The former “Sabalero” president reignited a scandal and targeted “El Fortín” over an alleged agreement before the 2023 relegation. The details.

The last few hours in the world of Colón have been marked by a political and sporting earthquake. Just days before the November 30 elections, statements by former president José Vignatti caused a shockwave that went beyond Santa Fe and set off alarms across the country.

In an atmosphere where the Sabalero is still trying to recover from its abrupt drop to the lower division, his words reopened old wounds.

In an interview with Radio Gol (FM 96.7), Vignatti — candidate for trustee for the group Tradición Sabalera — revealed a situation as delicate as it was explosive: he claimed that, before playing the final match of the 2023 Professional League Tournament, Vélez allegedly proposed to arrange a draw so that both teams could avoid relegation.

It was at that point in the interview that the former president uttered the phrase that sparked the scandal: “The opponents had mentioned the possibility of splitting the points and we, together with the players, refused. We went out to win the match and we lost,” he stated emphatically, since Colón also needed the points to qualify for the playoffs.

It has been exactly two years since that match at the José Amalfitani stadium, played on 11/23/2023, which ended in a Colón defeat. Simultaneously, Gimnasia lost to Banfield, but the combination of results pushed the Sabalero to play a tiebreaker against the Lobo. At Newell’s stadium, Gimnasia won 1-0, marking the beginning of the end for a Colón that still hasn’t managed to get back on track.

His words revived old ghosts regarding the ethical limits of Argentine football. Although he avoided naming names or providing official details, his testimony implies the existence of an attempted sporting arrangement, an accusation that, if confirmed, could implicate officials, institutions, and even the tournament’s own organization.

The impact was immediate: fans, officials, and analysts agreed that what Vignatti denounced is too serious to ignore. In the midst of a heated electoral campaign, the statement hit like a bomb in a club still trying to rebuild after one of the most difficult years in its history.

A week before Colón chooses its president

Once the ordinary assembly is over, Colón will hold elections on Sunday, November 30, and according to information from the assembly, 16,000 members will be eligible to choose the new rojinegro president.

Five lists will compete in the elections, from which the winner will lead the club for the next two years.

The new authorities will take office on December 1, one day after the formal transfer of power, leaving no margin for transition for the next Board of Directors.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.