Migrations initiates sanctioning process against 36 professional clubs over foreign player status

Chile's National Migration Service has launched sanctioning proceedings against 36 professional football clubs due to irregularities concerning the immigration status of foreign players. This move comes after a report by the Professional Footballers' Union (Sifup) and the National Association of Women Footballers (Anjuf) revealed that a significant portion of foreign athletes were not in compliance with visa regulations.

The report highlighted that 43% of foreign footballers in Chile, encompassing both men's and women's leagues, did not possess a valid work visa. This situation affects a total of 114 athletes across various divisions. Consequently, the migration service's procedure involves 13 clubs from the First Division, 14 from the Second Division (Ascenso), and nine from the Third Division (Segunda).

Institutions found in violation risk substantial fines, calculated between 10 and 200 UTM (Unidad Tributaria Mensual). This translates to potential penalties ranging from approximately 716,000 Chilean pesos to over 14.3 million pesos, depending on the severity of the case.

Frank Sauerbaum, the national director of the Migration Service, explained that clubs will have the opportunity to appeal the sanctions. The agency plans to hold a meeting with the National Football Association of Chile (ANFP) and Sifup to discuss the administrative situation of foreign footballers and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

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The objective is to address the administrative situation of foreign footballers and prevent similar episodes from recurring in Chilean professional football.