Unión Iquique Rejection: ANFP Explains Tournament Rules
- On Tuesday, the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (ANFP), the governing body of Chilean football, dismissed the appeal filed jointly by Spanish Union and Deportes iquique.
- Both Spanish Union and Deportes Iquique faced relegation at the end of the 2023 season.
- The ANFP, under the leadership of President Pablo Milad, released a statement detailing the reasons for rejecting the appeal.
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ANFP Rejects Appeal to Alter Relegation System in Chilean Football
Background: the Dispute Over Relegation
On Tuesday, the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (ANFP), the governing body of Chilean football, dismissed the appeal filed jointly by Spanish Union and Deportes iquique. The clubs sought to remain in the Primera División (First division) citing a controversial interpretation of the ANFP’s regulations. The core of their argument revolved around Article 90 of the regulations.
Both Spanish Union and Deportes Iquique faced relegation at the end of the 2023 season. Their appeal aimed to leverage a past regulation concerning relegation calculations to overturn the decision. The clubs argued that the current relegation system was unfair.
ANFP’s Decision and Rationale
The ANFP, under the leadership of President Pablo Milad, released a statement detailing the reasons for rejecting the appeal. The statement firmly asserted that there was no basis to modify the existing relegation system. The ANFP’s decision effectively confirms the relegation of both Spanish Union and Deportes Iquique.
A central argument presented by the ANFP focused on the status of the previously cited Article 90. The ANFP contends that this article, wich outlined a relegation system based on averages, was only applied during the 2005 season and has as been “tacitly repealed” through subsequent amendments to the ANFP statutes. This means that while the article existed, its non-use over a prolonged period effectively removed it from active regulation.
The Controversial Article 90
Article 90, as it existed in 2005, calculated relegation based on a team’s average points over a specified period. This differed from the current system, which relies on a points-based table at the end of each season. The clubs argued that the spirit of the regulations favored maintaining the older system, especially given perceived inconsistencies in the application of rules over time.
The ANFP’s response directly addresses this claim, stating that the consistent application of the current system over many years demonstrates its legitimacy and negates any argument for reverting to the older, average-based method. The ANFP emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable and predictable regulatory framework for the league.
Implications for Chilean Football
This decision has notable implications for the future of both Spanish Union and Deportes Iquique, who will now face the challenges of competing in the Segunda División. The outcome also sets a precedent for future disputes regarding the interpretation of ANFP regulations.
The ANFP’s firm stance on Article 90 signals a commitment to upholding the current regulatory framework and avoiding retroactive changes based on past interpretations. This is intended to provide stability and clarity for all clubs within the Chilean football system.