Reactions of all kinds, from political, sporting, economic and even regionalist, have generated on the Caribbean Coast the proposal of the national Government to remove the Colombian National Team from Barranquilla and take it to other stadiums in the country.
The controversy arose after President Gustavo Petro, within the framework of COP 16 in Cali, questioned the high ticket prices to see the ‘tricolor’ matches.
The president shared a long message accompanied by a video of an event held at the Pascual Guerrero Stadium where attendees chanted his name: “This happens when they let the people enter the stadiums. Due to ticket prices, they should not exclude the majority of the population from the stadiums to watch their soccer team. The stadiums are public… Regarding deceptions. It is time for ordinary people to be able to see their Colombian soccer team in the stadiums. Batteries,” wrote the Head of State.
In response, the Minister of Sports, Cristina López, supported the initiative: “Okay, Mr. President: our Colombian soccer team, which makes us happy on each qualifying round with its good results, deserves to be applauded no matter from which side.” tribune is made. Access to the ticket office should not be so difficult… what if we review the system so that a few are not left with what should be accessible to all the fans who love our team? I call on the FCF to put the National Team on tour throughout the country… I am sure that any stadium will be full as has been seen for years in beloved Barranquilla.”
To the above, the vice president of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF), Álvaro González, responded, ruling out that this private entity, the governing body of the discipline in Colombia, is considering that Barranquilla stops being the ‘home of the National Team’.
“We, from the Federation, have never thought about stripping Barranquilla of hosting the Colombian National Team. They have earned the thing about the National Team home,” he said.
The proposal did not go down well with some coastal leaders, such as the current president of the Senate, Efraín Cepeda Sarabia, who considers that it is an affront to the Caribbean region.
“A new aggression against Barranquilla and the Caribbean region. I firmly oppose the proposal of the Ministry of Sports to remove the Colombian National Team from the city of Barranquilla. There can be no government intervention in football, Fifa has reminded us, there would be risks of receiving sanctions,” said the congressman.
Cepeda Sarabia considers that this decision “represents one more blow against our city, which has already suffered from exorbitant energy rates, budget cuts of 32.5% for Atlántico and illegal valuation charges, which add to the unfortunate loss of the headquarters of the 2027 Pan American Games.”
When and where will the Colombian National Team play again?
The Colombian National Team will play again in the month of November for dates 11 and 12 of the World Cup Qualifiers. The next match will be against Uruguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo. The game is scheduled for Friday, November 15 at 7:00 pm Colombian time.
After its visit to Uruguay, Colombia will receive Ecuador in Barranquilla. The meeting will be on Tuesday, November 19 from 6:00 pm, Colombian time.