Tremendous corruption scandal has been uncovered in Honduran football after referees in the northern area made serious allegations of bribes to help teams win championships.
The line judge, Omar Leiva, He was the one who revealed in the program Panorama Esportiu of International Radio, with tests in the hand of the attempts of bribe that was object and indicated directly to the President of the referees, Óscar Velásquez who was his teammate in the hat-trick that officiated the match of the dollar suitcase.
to read: HOW IS OLYMPIA AND MOTAGUA GOING WHEN DOES OCAS MONTCADA BEAK?
“I’m sorry because brave referees are keeping quiet. This decision has not been easy what I’m doing. I ask my teammates to support something. I’m putting myself at risk, for not accepting $ 10,000 in a football match, 5,000 for the chairman of the Refereeing Commission and 5,000 for Omar Leiva and the evidence is here, ”he said bluntly.
Say names? They insisted on Leiva and he revealed it: “Óscar Velásquez (current Chairman of the Arbitration Commission was the one of the other five thousand). They went to leave me 10 thousand dollars in my house. I told them I could not receive “I had the courage to reject it,” he said.
“This is a tricky thing, but when one has no tail they step on it and have the evidence. Why fear? I have the evidence that my children saw this money and looked at how I got this money back. This is the legacy that I leave it to the arbitration. This is the problem of this country, which we are afraid of. Football is like politics, the referees do not want those who are on the Arbitration Commission, they do not allow us to burn tires, “said Leiva .
THE FINAL MATCH
Leiva’s complaint is that people from one of the teams that was playing in the final of the Closing 2013 in Tocoa, Colom who played Real Sociedad vs Real España, offered them these $ 10,000 that have been the trigger for this scandal.
For some years, referees like Gaspar Molina now retired and Mario Montcada, also already off the tracks, have revealed some anomalies in the whistles and some game tricks, but they never presented the tests as if Omar Leiva did them today.
Then they kept asking him. What party was he for? “I’m focused on a very important match. They tell me on a phone call from a friend of mine, a former schoolmate, I answer him because he’s my friend and I answer because I have him registered. He passes me X person and tells me “Omar Leiva, notice that I need us to at least tie the game,” the Honduran flagman revealed.
He continues: “It’s a great final between Real España and Real Sociedad back in Tocoa. You heard, I made this decision with my family. Be the irrigation I’m running and my family, don’t be afraid. There are colleagues they have called me, physical trainers, former members of the Arbitration Commission, active referees. Don’t be afraid. It is difficult for you to bring evidence and close your doors, “he denounced.
This great final was in May 2013 that Real Spain was crowned champion in penalties. Leiva continues to clarify the bribery attempt. “I’m focused on my teammates, they called me on my phone and I told them; gentlemen, I’m sorry, I can’t accept these things, I’m just going to do my job, I’m a professional, I won’t accept them but I’m not going to affect me. They said to me, “Okay, you don’t want your family and they cut off my call. That’s serious,” the line judge denounced.
VELASQUE’S INSISTENCE IN SEVERAL CALLS
Leiva denounced and left evidence that if something happens to him or his family, the evidence of the complaint is already in several hands and pointed to those responsible. He claims that Velasquez was calling him in the days after the match to report an order that had been left to him at the home of the now member of the Refereeing Commission of the Honduran Football Federation.
“Then I called my wife and kids, I told them to leave the house. Maybe that’s how the Discipline Commission does something. I’m in an important party and having my family like that … that’s not easy. They left the money lying in my house, “the Honduran referee said, crying. He picks up strength and continues, “The Monday I come after the final, I’m going to pick up my family in a safe place. That’s what people who don’t know about refereeing don’t know, what they do to us referees branch of San Pedro Sula “, he commented.
“I grabbed that money on Monday when I came back, what they left lying around and I went to get my friend who used it and I talked to his dad and I explained,‘ He exposed me and I’m coming back that money. It was $ 10,000, five thousand for the engineer (Oscar) Velasquez — five thousand for me. Thank God I had the courage to tell them and tell them they were going to take it after the final. “
Leiva did not want to involve her two remaining teammates who whistled this match which was led by Melvin Matamoros of main and Erick Andino of fourth.
“That’s what I understand. The referee for this game was Melvin Matamoros, the fourth was Erick Andino. But I testify to what happened to me, I can’t speculate about them. Then I went to leave- ho “.
“In this country, unfortunately, thanks to Omar Leiva, this money was returned. What is the retaliation that exists for me? This is a time bomb that managers and journalists know. The evidence is in the Disciplinary Commission of arbitration, “Leiva denounced, saying the evidence is in the hands of the authorities and there is no evidence yet.
There is a testimony of a person who was used and confirmed that these people who previously offered him money, wanted to repair the harm they had caused him, giving him 50 thousand lempiras for his honesty. “I told them, no gentlemen, thank you and I didn’t take it. The problem is after Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that the assistant colleague (Óscar Velásquez) calls me and says: Omar, they left you an order at my house. he called on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and I told him, brother, if you have dirty business, call them and they will give it to you so that I can return the $ 10,000, “he said.
Ten sought the reactions of those involved, Beningo Pineda and Óscar Velásquez, but have not responded to the calls. In addition, yesterday a letter was leaked from Omar Leiva who had requested a farewell match for the grand final, which was not answered by the Arbitration Commission. Leiva announced that he will never whistle again in the National League.