The AFA makes Colón’s demotion official: what the Disciplinary Tribunal’s ruling says

If faith is the last thing to lose, the end has come for Columbus fans. The wait is over and… Sabalero’s relegation to the First National team has finally been made official. This was established this Friday, after its publication in the Official Journal, with the ruling of the Disciplinary Court. He The Santa Fe club had presented a sort of protection to avoid relegation, consumed after the defeat in the play-off against Gymnastics La Plata.

However, since the presentation of the letter the die was cast: the request was not successful and this was confirmed by the AFA. Colón is one of the teams that will make up the Primera Nacional in 2024. “No one can assert a right that contradicts his previous conduct,” the ruling claims as it indicates that Colón was part of the Assembly in which the criteria for determining the 2023 relegations were voted unanimously.

This Thursday, in his first conference as the new president of Sabalero, Vittorio Godanohe had taken it for granted, even without the published ruling, when he listed the state of the club and noted that in December “the revenues of the corporate mass have decreased”.

“We understand that it could be because there is no football in December or because the club was relegatedbut if we want a great club we must support this commitment”, said president Godano in a press conference, distancing himself from the presentation of the former president. José Vignattiauthor of the request for cancellation of the relegation.

The request made by the lawyer Ariel Reck For Colón’s part, he focused his complaint on the regulatory changes undergone in the middle of the current season, a situation he considers “inadmissible”. In a mid-year meeting, one of the three foreseen relegations was eliminated and it was established that the team with the worst average would lose the category (Arsenal) and the last of the general table (in this case, Colon).

“The presentation was from the previous commission, so we didn’t follow that procedure. On Tuesday we will have a meeting with (the president, Claudio) Tapia in AFA, but we don’t know what the topic will be, only that they will welcome us because we are members of a new commission,” Godano said.

What does Columbus’ order say?

“A change to the regulations cannot be validly admitted with the competition already underway and the teams logically recruited on the basis of a previous regulation. This new system adopted once the season has already begun is openly illegitimate and violates the guarantees of legal and sporting equality”, reads one of Colón’s foundations.

The other axis of the presentation concerned the body that decided on the change: according to Reck’s writing, it was the Executive Committee that was competent and not the Assembly, as happened.

“A play-off match played on the basis of a regulation modified during the competition cannot be admitted without the approval of all members of the Executive Committee. The changes of the Assembly of June 2023 (…), should in any case disciplinary for the 2024 season”, stands out in the paragraph preceding the request for “cancellation” of the relegation.

What does the Court’s ruling say?

However, the Court’s response was negative. The arguments that put an end to Sabalero’s request are based on the “extemporaneousness” of the request. For the Court to begin a debate on the issue, Colón would have had to file the appeal before his descent was consummated. “At least before the match against Gimnasia, not after,” explained a source from the organisation.

“(Colón’s) request was accepted as a matter of social courtesy, let’s say, and to maintain a spirit that we do not refuse anything in limine, because that would have left the club very exposed. We accept this, but it is impossible for the Court to say that this match is voidable. Impossible. There is no chance on our side, no chance. “We are not here to cancel matches,” he confirmed two weeks ago Clarion a member of the Court.

But this certainty is not yet official. Why, if the Court was so clear on its position, did it not rule in the same week? The Professional League has also been waiting for its publication to spread the 2024 calendar. The answer to such a long wait is the bureaucratic order.

The delay in presenting Gimnasia’s defense and the busy schedules of the Court members – mostly judges from different jurisdictions – prevented the drafting of a ruling that was not discussed.

Gimnasia’s participation was merely administrative. For having played the playoff, he was named by Colón in his written statement and the Court had to listen to his position, albeit late. El Lobo has not provided any information that could force the collegiate body to review his position. El Sabalero was always alone in that crusade.