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

The former "Sabalero" leader reignited a scandal and pointed fingers at "El Fortín" over an alleged agreement before the 2023 relegation. The details.

The last few hours in the Colón world have been marked by a political and sports earthquake. Just days before the elections on November 30, the statements of 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 fall to relegation, his words reopened old wounds.

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

It was at this point in the interview that the former leader uttered the phrase that sparked the scandal: "The opponents had mentioned the possibility of splitting the points and we, along with the players, opposed it. We went out to win the match and we lost," he asserted firmly because Colón needed the points to also qualify for the playoffs.

Exactly two years ago, that match at the José Amalfitani Stadium, played on 11/23/2023, ended with Colón's defeat. Simultaneously, Gimnasia lost to Banfield, but the combination of results pushed the Sabalero to a tiebreaker against the Lobo. At Newell’s field, Gimnasia won 1-0, marking the beginning of the end for a Colón that still struggles to find its way.

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

The impact was immediate: fans, officials, and analysts agreed that what Vignatti denounced is too serious to overlook. Amid a heated electoral campaign, the statement dropped like a bomb in a club still seeking to rebuild after one of the most challenging years in its history.

A week before Colón chooses its president

Once the ordinary assembly is over, the Colón club will hold elections on Sunday, November 30, where, according to the assembly, 16,000 members will be eligible to choose the new red-and-black leader.

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, a day after the formal transfer of power, leaving no room 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.