Bogota – Colombian prosecutors have opened two investigations into attempts to bribe soccer referees and have called on the national league to provide information that could help in the probes.
Deputy Attorney General Armando Otalora, who made the announcement, also said he asked the league to provide the names and information on the background of former referees who might assist in the investigations.
Prosecutors will initially focus their investigations on alleged attempts to fix two Colombian league matches, one pitting Once Caldas against America and another between Deportivo Cali and America.
Recently, former referee John Fernando Mosquera acknowledged that he had attempted to bribe a match official on behalf of a gambler, whose name he did not reveal.
Mosquera told Caracol Radio two weeks ago that he had attempted to bribe a referee in the Once Caldas-America match, Eder Vergara. He said he offered the official 15 million pesos (some $6,600) to guarantee victory for America, one of two squads in the southwestern city of Cali.
In reporting the bribe attempts, Mosquera downplayed the seriousness of his actions.
“I work with a gambler but I’m not involved with any club, I don’t work with any of them, nor will I,” Mosquera told the station.
Prior to the match between Once Caldas and America on Nov. 20, Vergara informed the Colombian Soccer Federation and league officials of the incident.
Once Caldas eventually won the game 2-1 and Vergara instead officiated a match between Deportivo Pereira and Real Cartagena that same day.
The federation and the league later announced that they would investigate the allegation, while Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos asked the attorney general’s office to intervene.
The attorney general’s office now will try to determine whether the actions constituted fraud or betrayal of public trust.
Prior to Mosquera’s statements to the radio station, the head of the Colombian Soccer Federation’s refereeing commission, Juan Pablo Forero, had told the media of another attempt to bribe a referee officiating a match between Deportivo Cali and America.
