Blooming president slams 'malicious' refereeing, backs coach

Sebastián Peña, president of the Bolivian football club Blooming, has sharply criticized the quality of refereeing in the league, describing the decisions as "malicious." His remarks follow a controversial match where Blooming's player Marc Enoumbá was sent off, and a penalty was awarded against the team.

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We are surprised by the continuous actions of the referees. We insist again, we are submerged in situations where there is no criterion to evaluate plays. This has been happening absurdly and we believe, at times, maliciously.

Peña publicly backed his coach, Erwin Sánchez, who had previously spoken out against the referees' performance. Sánchez's comments also alluded to Ronald Paz, the vice president of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) and a director at Guabirá, another club. Peña expressed surprise at the referees' "continuous actions" and the perceived lack of consistent criteria in evaluating plays, suggesting the situations have become "absurd" and at times "malicious."

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If there is match-fixing, let the proof appear. We club leaders will be the first to denounce and put in jail those who are directly harming us through match-fixing.

Amidst discussions about potential match-fixing, Peña urged for evidence to be presented if such claims are substantiated. "If there is match-fixing, let the proof appear. We club leaders will be the first to denounce and put in jail those who are directly harming us through match-fixing," he stated.

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Unfortunately, Ronald Paz is the vice president of the Professional Division, he is also part of the Guabirá board. He will have to feel alluded to because it was a heated match, it was a match where practically no one wanted to lose.

Peña also addressed the referee appointment process, proposing changes that would involve clubs more directly. He advocated for the Referee Commission's appointments to be made by the clubs themselves, rather than the FBF's Executive Committee. He also referenced Pedro Saucedo, the current president of the Referee Commission, noting past criticisms of his work.

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We were clear in putting forward three important points, that the appointments of the Referee Commission be made by the clubs and not by the Executive Committee of the Federation.