Allegations of death threats against a goalkeeper and his family have emerged in Bolivian professional soccer, sparking match-fixing suspicions.
Fox Sports reported on Tuesday that Juan Manuel Ferreyra, goalkeeper for Bolivia’s top-flight team Guabirá, claimed he received death threats against himself and his family before a match with Always Ready.
Guabirá’s head coach, Leonardo Eguez, revealed that the perpetrator demanded Ferreyra either pay a sum of money or concede at least three goals in the game, threatening to kill Ferreyra, his wife, and his mother if he didn’t comply.
The threats seemed to materialize as Guabirá suffered a devastating 0-6 loss to Always Ready on September 13 at Estadio Villa Ingenio in El Alto, Bolivia. Ferreyra started but was substituted after conceding three goals by the 39th minute, with his replacement Jorge Arauz allowing three more.
In a post-match press conference, the Guabirá squad disclosed the threats. Forward Víctor Abrego tearfully expressed his struggle to continue playing, fearing for his teammate’s family’s safety.
Abrego explained that in a situation where they were supposed to lose 0-3, he thought scoring might endanger his teammate’s mother, revealing he had requested to be substituted.
Defender José Enrique Flores added that even before kickoff, players were reluctant to play. Their legs were shaking. He called for a thorough investigation.
While Coach Eguez clarified the incident wasn’t aimed at Always Ready, he noted that there are sinister forces at work in soccer. It needs to investigate, alluding to a mafia embedded in Bolivian soccer. He urged the Bolivian government, soccer federation, and prosecutors to hold those responsible accountable.
Always Ready responded, stating that these are extremely serious allegations. If necessary, it’ll refer the case to prosecutors for a comprehensive investigation, showing solidarity with Guabirá.