The Chile Football Federation (ANFP) is considering an appeal against the nation’s elimination from their World Cup qualifying group.
The ANFP believe there is possible evidence of match-fixing during Peru’s 1-1 draw with Colombia – a result that inadvertently led to Chile failing to qualify, according to Chilean publication La Tercera.
It has been suggested that Peru took their foot off the gas following instructions from Monaco striker Radamel Falcao.
He was pictured speaking to a series of Peru players, seemingly telling them a draw would suit both nations.
Peru midfielder Renato Tapia fuelled the conspiracy theories, admitting Falcao and his teammates did discuss the match result with their opponents while the game was being played.
“We were focussed on the game and then in the final five minutes the Colombians approached us,” he told Panamericana Television.
Paragraph 6.3.2 of FIFA’s guidelines on match-fixing covers “unlawfully influencing the course or results of matches,” which is what the ANFP will likely refer to.
The guidelines add that if a club is found guilty of the offence then they can be punished with “expulsion from a competition, relegation to a lower division, a points deduction and /or the return of awards.”
The Mirror
