Real Potosí players decry 'shameful' refereeing after loss, allege third-party interests

The players of Bolivian football club Real Potosí have voiced strong discontent following their 0-1 defeat to Real Tomayapo, accusing the match officials of bias and suggesting external forces are manipulating the championship. The team's frustration peaked after referee Javier Revollo issued two red cards in the first half, forcing Real Potosí to play with nine men for a significant portion of the game.

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Already enough, how far are we going to go? What happened today is a disgrace. Who do you want to be champion? Let's not participate then.

In an unprecedented move, the entire squad appeared at a post-match press conference, with captain Juan Pablo Rioja speaking on behalf of his teammates. "Enough is enough, how far are we going to go?" Rioja declared, visibly angered. He questioned the state of Bolivian football and issued a stark warning: "What happened today is a disgrace. Who do you want to be champion? Let's not participate then." The players emphasized their lack of fear regarding potential sanctions for their outspokenness, with Rioja stating, "We are not afraid of being sanctioned, all 30 of us are showing our faces."

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We are not afraid of being sanctioned, all 30 of us are showing our faces.

The players' grievances extend beyond this single match, with Rioja lamenting a pattern of recurrent dismissals affecting Real Potosí. He expressed suspicion that the team is being deliberately hindered in its pursuit of its objectives. "Humbly, we are fighting game after game, we are suffering expulsion after expulsion; we are the team with the most expulsions now in the championship," he lamented, highlighting the perceived injustice.

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Humbly, we are fighting game after game, we are suffering expulsion after expulsion; we are the team with the most expulsions now in the championship.

This collective protest underscores the team's feeling of being unfairly targeted. Rioja even called for clarity on which teams are considered contenders for the title or qualification spots, stating, "We have families, we come honestly to compete. Tell us who the qualified teams are, then we won't participate." The club now faces uncertainty heading into their next match against Guabirá, with Rioja admitting apprehension about what might occur. Real Potosí's public protest has placed the refereeing and the overall integrity of the Bolivian championship under intense scrutiny.

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We have families, we come honestly to compete. Tell us who the qualified teams are, then we won't participate.