By David Gold
April 20 – Former South American champions Once Caldas became the second Colombian team in a week to face a 30-day suspension over unpaid player wages.
Caldas have been given five days to pay 1.08 billion pesos in wages and social security payments or face the 30 day suspension.
Caldas are the second Colombian team in a week to face such a punishment after Deportes Quindio were given a suspended 30 day ban for failing to pay their players’ wages, before they reneged and agreed to pay some of the money owed.
Failing to pay player wages is a typical problem in Colombian football and many of its clubs are in debt to their playing staff.
On the pitch, Once Caldas have lost four games in a row, including a 5-0 defeat to Millonarios last week when some of their players went on strike.
But they last night beat San Martin 2-0 in Peru to progress to the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores, South America’s version of the Champions League.
Caldas had goals from promising striker Wason Renteria and Claudio Mirabaje to thank for the win, and Dayro Moreno said after the game: “I’m immensely happy.
“This [result] is thanks to the efforts of all the players and the coaching staff who stuck together in these difficult times,” he added.
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