The Peruvian championship is in crisis after strikes by players over the weekend, while Universidad San Martin have confirmed that they have withdrawn from the league and are beginning the process of sacking their entire team.
The Peruvian players' union (SAFAP) called the strike last week after they rejected the clauses included in the league's (ADFP) regulations for the 2012 Descentralizado relating to refinancing clubs' debts. According to clauses 106, 107 and 108, top division clubs would be able to restructure debts accrued during 2011 in order for them to be paid back over a two year period.
Universidad San Martin, who were only founded in 2004 but won the league in 2007, 2008 and 2010, were due to participate in this year's Copa Sudamericana and are one of the more financially stable teams in the league.
However, the club's players joined the strike to show solidarity with their compatriots at other teams in the league rather than follow the club's instructions to play their match away against Melgar regardless. Suffice to say the choice did not go well with San Martin's directors, who have withdrawn the club from the league and are now setting about the process of sacking the players.
"As a result of this situation, in which the club has seen its assets - the players - turn their backs on them, this decision has been taken. This cannot be tolerated. San Martin is closing its doors", Alvaro Barco, the club's sporting director, added in an interview with radio station Ovación.
"The directors were very precise with the players about the consequences of such serious misconduct. The trigger was the players' decision not to travel and play against Melgar. The club cannot tolerate the players turning their backs on us. We have already started the process of sacking the players".
Many of the unpaid debts relate to player wages, some of which date back four or five months, by some of the country's most illustrious clubs, including Alianza Lima and Sport Boys. Luis de Souza Ferreira, President of the ADFP, announced that the strikes "will be declared illegal", and the Peruvian FA (FPF) are already in dialogue with FIFA about the next steps to take.
However, the FPF itself is also the target of San Martin's ire after the club claimed the league have not fulfilled their obligations towards clubs who have acted with financial prudence.
"As a result of the poor leadership from the Peruvian Football Federation, Universidad San Martin have taken the decision to retire from professional football. We are currently closing the club, we have initiated legal proceedings to rescind our links with the players. Unfortunately, they [the players] have taken a decision against an institution that, throughout its years of working in sport, has left an example of responsibility in all of its obligations", José Antonio Chang, a spokesman for the club's directors, stated today.
"The club cannot participate in a tournament completely contaminated by teams who do not fulfil their obligations, with a federation that ignores its responsibilities and a players' union that castigates the right and not the irresponsible. This sort of solidarity seems to be irrational.
"The only way that San Martin could return to professional football is if everyone makes their payments and pay their taxes, so that there are no debts to the players".
