Deportivo Pasto President Óscar Casabón dropped a bombshell just before his team’s 0-2 loss to América de Cali. He accused multiple players of fixing matches through betting schemes.
Five players will be cut from the squad. Casabón said he’s filing a complaint with Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office but hasn’t named anyone publicly.
Forward Facundo Boné pushed back hard. “We propose that if anyone is betting, evidence should be presented, and we will take responsibility for removing them from the locker room ourselves,” he told reporters. Goalkeeper Diego Martínez broke down in tears defending his reputation. “My parents raised me as a person of integrity, with values and principles, and today they want to stain my name.”
Why These Allegations Threaten More Than One Club
Casabón pointed to “unusual gameplay” in three recent matches. Against Chicó, Medellín, and Cali, something looked off to him.
He got specific about the betting pattern. “I suspected it since the match with Chicó. Today, we were supposedly going to be losing 2-0 in the first half, just as against Cali. That was the bet,” Casabón stated.
But there’s context here. Back in May, seven Junior de Barranquilla players got caught up in a similar mess. Their coach claimed he had evidence of rigged games and turned it over to authorities. So this isn’t happening in isolation.
What Happened When Management Made Its Move
The accusations came without evidence. Players demanded proof before their names got dragged through the mud.
Diego Martínez didn’t even play against América. The club excluded him before the match.
Acolfutpro stepped in fast. The Colombian players’ union blasted Deportivo Pasto for skipping due process entirely. They said suspicions alone can’t justify public condemnation and that internal disciplinary procedures under labor law must be followed.
Head Coach Camilo Ayala resigned amid the chaos. He didn’t stick around to manage a team splitting apart.
How This Crisis Divides the Club
Deportivo Pasto now has management on one side, players and their union on the other. Zero evidence has been made public.
The club’s demanding transparency from players while offering none itself. That’s not sitting well with Acolfutpro, which insists accusations need backing before anyone’s career gets torched.
Internal divisions run deep now. Management maintains its position without proof. Players refuse to accept guilt by association. And the coach who might’ve held things together just walked away.
The Attorney General’s investigation will determine what actually happened. Until then, Deportivo Pasto operates in crisis mode with a fractured locker room and no clear path forward.
