San Antonio Unido President’s Unfulfilled Promise too Goalkeeper Cristóbal Campos After Career-Threatening Injury Resurfaces
San Antonio Unido president, Celso Vargas, sparked outrage years after a horrific on-field accident involving goalkeeper Cristóbal Campos by publicly offering a “life salary” that was never delivered, according to both Campos and representatives from the players’ union. The revelation, resurfaced recently, details a deeply troubling aftermath to an injury that nearly ended Campos’s career and led to significant financial hardship.
The incident occurred during a match where Campos suffered a severe injury. Despite the gravity of the situation, Vargas reportedly offered Campos a lifetime salary as a gesture of support. However, Campos states this promise was never fulfilled, and the situation deteriorated to the point where he faced legal action and asset seizure. This broken pledge has ignited renewed criticism of vargas’s conduct and raised questions about the treatment of players in Chilean football.
Vargas defended his actions at the time, stating, “I rolled, but I would never replace my goalkeeper in those circumstances.” He also expressed regret over the ensuing speculation amidst the tragedy.
The most damaging detail emerged from Campos himself, who revealed, “He himself, so outraged with what happened, offered a life salary for Cristóbal Campos. And, according to the words of the goalkeeper himself, that was never concretized.”
José Luis Carreño, founder of the players’ union association, condemned Vargas’s timing and actions. “I learned through social networks. I read the publication of the president of San Antonio Unido. I find it aberrant. It was not the minute or the possibility. They are things that bother me a lot. They take advantage of a terrible situation,” Carreño stated.
The story highlights a pattern of alleged mistreatment and unfulfilled promises, leaving Campos to grapple with the physical and financial consequences of an injury sustained while playing professionally. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by footballers and the importance of honoring commitments made in moments of crisis.