The Peruvian Football Federation eventually received green light from the authorities to let the Peruvian First Division begin this week-end, despite the fact that there is a state of emergency in Peru in force because of nation-wide protests, which started in December 2022. The matches are however supposed to be played behind close doors, so no spectators are allowed.
The competition should have started yesterday, on Friday, 3 February, with the match Cusco FC - Sport Huancayo, but the home team did not show up, so Sport Huancayo were awarded a 3-0 win. The same happened today, when FBC Melgar did not travel to Atlético Grau, while Cienciano went to Lima to play a friendly game against Alianza Lima, instead of travelling to Cajamarca to play their official match against UTC, so Atlético Grau and UTC Cajamarca were also awarded 3-0 wins. This will most likely happen with the match in Cusco, where Deportivo Garcilaso should be facing Deportivo Binacional, but Binacional will not be there for the match, so Deportivo Garcilaso will make their debut in the top tier with an awarded 3-0 win. The only match that is playing right in this moment is the one between Universitario de Deportes and Academia Cantolao. Tomorrow another match might be played, between Universidad César Vallejo and Alianza Atlético. But the matchday derby betweeen Sporting Cristal and Alianza Lima will not be played, as Alianza Lima already announced that they will not show up for the game.
All in all, out of nine scheduled matches, only two will be played this week-end, and this is not particularly related to the political, social and economic crisis that affects the whole country, but rather due to a scandal concerning TV rights. Eight clubs would like to maintain their contracts with the former TV broadcaster, Consorcio Fútbol Perú (GOL Peru or GOL TV), while the Peruvian Football Federation signed a deal with 1190 Sports, a company that earned the TV rights for the 2023 season. Nevertheless, neither party wants to retreat, so the fight goes on between the Federation and the clubs involved: Alianza Lima, Universitario de Deportes, FBC Melgar, Cienciano, Cusco FC, Deportivo Binacional, Deportivo Municipal and Sport Boys. Out of these clubs, only Universitario de Deportes accepted eventually to play their game this week-end, against Academia Cantolao, but the match will be broadcasted on YouTube instead of any of the TV broadcasters, to avoid future juridical issues. The other seven will not play, and they even declared that they will withdraw from the competition if their demands are not met.
The issue is quite serious, because it involves lots of teams, including Alianza Lima and Universitario de Deportes, the two most supported teams in Peru, as well as other important teams, among the most visible and well-liked in Peru, able to increase the TV audience. If a solution is not found soon, this might turn into a nightmare for the clubs, for the Federation and for the TV broadcasters and sponsors. A competition without these clubs would be inimaginable in Peru. The clubs will lose their place in the First Division, and most likely their sponsors and most of their financing sources (including TV rights, which are so important for their budget). The TV broadcasters will lose most of their audience, and I would very much doubt that 1190 Sports would like to pay the same amount for a less interesting competition with just 11 clubs. The Peruvian Football Federation will lose any credibility in front of the clubs, the overall public and the international community, for not being able to handle such a situation.
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