BOGOTA.- The Colombian Football Federation denounced on Friday that the players who will play the World Cup 2026 They are victims of “siege” after a public event in which they were accused of insulting the president of this country, the leftist Gustavo Petro.
The criticism on social networks against the members of the coffee team occurs in the midst of the polarized campaign for the June 21 runoff, which will face an ally of the president, Senator Ivan Cepedawith the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella.
On Thursday, Petro handed over the country’s flag to the delegation that will compete in the 2026 World Cup, which will be played from June 11 to July 19 in USA, Mexico and Canada.
During the protocol ceremony held at an airport in Bogotaseveral players looked less than effusive. One by one they received a gift from the president, but several of them simply greeted him quickly, an attitude interpreted as rudeness.
The captain and emblem of the national team, James Rodriguezwas harshly criticized on social media for apparently ignoring the request of Petro’s youngest daughter to take a photo.
The Federation expressed in a statement on Friday its rejection of “any manifestation of aggression, harassment or disqualification directed against the players, their families or members of the national delegation.”
After the event with Petro, the team traveled to the United States to play against Jordan a last friendly match before the debut in the World Cup, on June 17 against Uzbekistan in Group K.
Colombia’s participation in the tournament coincides with the final stretch of the campaign to choose the successor of Petro, the first left-wing president in the country’s history.
Previous relationship with James
James, the footballer who has most set the networks on fire, has had De la Espriella as legal advisor, a millionaire lawyer who has also represented paramilitary drug traffickers.
Known as “El Tigre”, the candidate usually campaigns wearing the team’s yellow shirt, a gesture that the left rejects and accuses of appropriation of a national symbol.
A judge on Thursday prohibited him from using that garment as an emblem, an act that replicates a gesture by the former Brazilian far-right president. Jair Bolsonaro. The lawyer said he will not abide by the ruling.
During the event, Petro also wore the team’s shirt.
