Colombian soccer championship game postponed amid match-fixing allegations

The championship final for Colombia’s second division soccer league has been postponed amid an investigation into possible match-fixing involving one of the teams, Reuters reported. 

The league’s president, Fernando Jaramillo, confirmed on Thursday that the game between Cortuluá and Unión Magdalena was postponed due to the investigation, per the wire service.

The final was supposed to take place on Saturday, pitting the winners of two playoff groups against each other to decide the league champion.

Questions arose after Unión Magdalena narrowly defeated Llaneros last Saturday, however. Union was trailing 1-0 in the 95th minute until they scored two quick goals to secure their spot in the championship game, according to Reuters. 

Video surfaced of the winning goal, showing Llaneros players apparently giving their opponents space and letting them score, the wire service reported.

“It has been suspended because we are in the process of investigation,” Jaramillo said of the game, per Reuters.

This comes as Jaramillo said six members of the Llaneros team did not appear for a meeting with league investigators on Thursday, choosing to send their lawyers in their stead. 

In a tweet, one Llaneros player said he had received threats following the game that made him fear for his life, Reuters reported. 

Both Cortuluá and Unión Magdalena have already secured promotions to Colombia’s top-tier soccer league, regardless of the results of the final, Reuters noted.