Alejandro Restrepo, head coach of Deportivo Independiente Medellín (DIM), has been suspended for three league matches and fined over 5 million pesos (approximately $5,252.715) for using offensive language towards a match official, the Dimayor, Colombia’s professional football league, announced this week.
The disciplinary action stems from an incident during a match between Llaneros and DIM, according to the Dimayor’s statement. Restrepo was ejected from the game, and the subsequent sanction prevents him from being present on the bench for league fixtures in rounds 9, 10, and 11. He was also previously absent from the touchline during DIM’s Copa Libertadores match against Liverpool of Uruguay.
Restrepo’s suspension is one of several handed down by the Dimayor following recent Liga Betplay matches. Arturo Reyes, manager of Deportivo Pereira, received a two-match ban and a fine of 1,167,270 pesos for similar conduct – using offensive language towards an opponent – during a match against Deportivo Pasto. Matías Risueño, the Pasto coach, faced a more severe penalty: a four-match suspension and a 7 million peso fine for offensive language and inciting the crowd during the same contest.
The match between Pereira and Pasto, played on February 8th, ended in a 2-2 draw but was marred by a post-match altercation between Reyes and Risueño stemming from Pasto’s celebrations in front of Pereira supporters. The Dimayor cited both coaches for violating articles within its Unified Disciplinary Code, specifically those pertaining to offensive language and provoking opposing fans.
DIM debuted in the 2026 Liga Betplay season on January 18th against Deportivo Pasto at the Estadio Departamental Libertad, with Restrepo selecting a lineup intended to counter the effects of the altitude and the home-field advantage of the Pasto team. The outcome of that match was not immediately available.
