Barcelona SC fires officials after Copa Ecuador elimination

Barcelona SC has taken internal action after its disqualification from the Copa Ecuador, dismissing the officials responsible for player registration and control. The club announced on Monday, August 17, that it had parted ways with those in charge of these areas due to the "Erick Mendoza case." Mendoza had played in the Round of 16 match against Liga de Portoviejo despite having already competed in this edition of the tournament with Delfín.

Although Barcelona SC initially won the match 1-0, the Ecuadorian Football Federation's Disciplinary Commission upheld Liga de Portoviejo's claim. The commission ruled that Barcelona SC must forfeit the game 3-0, leading to their elimination. The club issued a statement apologizing to its fans for the error, stating, "We assume the sporting consequences of this event without seeking justifications."

Following an internal analysis to determine responsibility, the club "dismissed the officials responsible for the player registration and control areas." Barcelona SC did not disclose the names or number of individuals affected. The club also announced immediate restructuring and strengthening of internal controls and regulatory reviews to prevent similar incidents.

The disqualification stemmed from Mendoza's participation with Delfín, where he had even scored in a previous match. Liga de Portoviejo filed a complaint after realizing the violation, which ultimately led to Barcelona SC's ousting from the Copa Ecuador.