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SOCCER

El Salvador could be suspended from future international tournaments

The president of the El Salvador Soccer Federation, Hugo Carrillo, and six other board members are being investigated by the authorities.

Update:
Salvadoreño Enrico Dueñas llega al FC Cartagena de la segunda división en España
@LaSelecta_SLV

The El Salvador’s Football Federation (FESFUT) is being investigated for money laundering by the authorities and all the games for domestic Primera Division matchday 2 were suspended this weekend. At present the president of the FESFUT (Hugo Carrillo) and other board members can’t return to work as the investigation continues.

Bad news for El Salvador

This could be another setback for soccer in El Salvador because FIFA could intervene and suspend them from any international competition for the next two years which could see the national team not being able to compete in the upcoming Gold Cup and the Nations League in CONCACAF.

At the club level the teams from El Salvador’s top tier that qualified for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League will not be able to participate if the investigation reveals that Carrilo and his members were involved in money laundering during his term. Carrillo is also being accused of manipulating the referees for not wanting to work this weekend amid the investigation.

The referees from El Salvador’s first division decided to go on strike and the federation was forced to cancel all the games scheduled this weekend. If FIFA decides to suspend El Salvador for two years from any international competitions, it will be the second time that a country in CONCACAF suffers this punishment.

The Guatemala national team and the clubs received a two-year punishment by FIFA between 2016 to 2018. Now El Salvador could face a similar penalty and this will be a major setback for their aspirations to qualify to the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1982.