Juan Pablo Alba was the referee who whistled the Equidad vs. Unión Magdalena and who starred in a great scandal on date 9 of the BetPlay I-2023 League. The central judge sent off six footballers (three per team), and he was the target of various criticisms from players, journalists and fans for his performance in the match in question.
The strongest criticism was made by Alex Mejía, captain of the Union, who referred to Alba for her “arrogance and total aggrandizement.” “We are ending our football, literally, constructive criticism. It is game after game, there is no improvement even with the VAR ”, he indicated at a press conference.
However, the scandal is much bigger after the revelations about the secret behind the referee Juan Pablo Alba, which increase the controversy and indignation.
Former referee Harold Perilla revealed that Juan Pablo Alba is the personal lawyer of Ímer Machado, director of the Arbitration Commission of Colombian professional soccer, in the case that the latter faces for alleged sexual harassment against Perilla and other national judges.
According to TIMEAlba would also be the lawyer for Judge Fifa Nicolás Gallo, in a case that pits the latter against Perilla for libel and slander.
Mr. Juan Pablo Alba, imer Machado’s personal lawyer and Álvaro González’s godson is a disaster… he has no control of the game, it may be that one of the protests had grounds for expulsion, this is caused by errors of interpretation and a good administration. pic.twitter.com/SW5EnIeyTx
– Wilmer Barahona H. (@ArbitrajeFrente) March 19, 2023
The newspaper TIME He assures that, according to sources within the Colombian arbitration, Alba had been delayed in passing his physical tests, completing them only last Friday, and even so he was appointed by the team led by Machado.
TIME He wanted to inquire with Ímer Machado, but he preferred not to answer after reading the related questions that the newspaper sent him by electronic means.
