O n Sunday the 10th of December of last year, Sport Ancash F.C. lost to Academia Deportiva Cantolao by two goals to nil in a decider for promotion to the Peruvian Premier Division. During the match, Sport Ancash left out one of his best players, Brazilian star player Ronailhe Calleira. A decision which was heavily slammed at social media and not understood by fans at the time. The Huaraz-based team took this decision because the Brazilian did not have his documentation in order to extend his work permit. Cantolao on the other hand, had a similar problem, although they decided to pick Jeferson Collazos and Argentinian defender Leandro Martín in the first eleven. Both foreigners would have had their Carné de extranjería (Green Card for gringos in Peru) expired and thus not count with a work permit to play football.
Sport Ancash F.C.´s club president José Mallqui appealed the loss against Academia Deportiva Cantolao at the Justice Commission of the Professional Football Association of Sports (ADFP) on two occasions. Despite having lost both appeals, José Mallqui didn’t give up and took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS; French: Tribunal arbitral du sport, TAS). On Tuesday last week, a three headed jury with members from Argentina and Panama had a look at the case and a decision is expected within a week, although the members have three months to decide. This final decision is not appealable. Would the TAS rule in favour of Sport Ancash F.C., it will play in the Peruvian Premier Division in 2018. Currently, the Amenaza Verde are playing a disastrous season with so far only having won once (last Sunday against Club Deportivo Defensor La Bocana), one draw and four losses. Mallqui explained our editor that half of this year´s budget was spend on an international lawyer that appeared to have defended Lionel Messi in the past. The club´s president stated furthermore that in case they do not win the trail, some new players might be brought to the club.
Photo: three members of the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport that will decide on the Sport Ancash F.C. case
