The ANFP resolved this Tuesday dismiss the claim presented by Spanish Union and Sports Iquiquewho sought to stay in the First Division based on an article of the Regulations that has caused controversy.
Through a statement, the entity chaired by Pablo Milad detailed the arguments who support this decision, making it clear that there is no room to modify the relegation system, as requested by the ‘Hispanics’ and the ‘Celestial Dragons’.
One of the key points presented in the document states that the old article 90which at the time contemplated a relegation system based on averages, was used only in the 2005 season and has been “tacitly repealed” by subsequent statutory modifications in 2012 and 2022.
“The old article 90, which provided for a relegation system based on averages and which has been in practical disuse for more than 20 years, was applied only in the 2005 season and has been tacitly repealed by subsequent statutory modifications (2012 and 2022) that set the number of First Division clubs at a maximum of 16, incompatible with the previous structure of 20 teams“, they pointed out from Quilín.
Another decisive argument was that, in the approval process of the 2025 Championship Rules, Unión Española and Deportes Iquique had voted in favor of the tournament rules before the start of the competition.
“The Rules of the 2025 Championship were approved by the Council of Presidents, including the vote in favor of the applicant clubs, before the start of the competition“, they detailed.
Finally, the ANFP stated that the claim is “inadmissible”, given that the clubs accepted the rules of the tournament and competed under them throughout the season.
“The claim is considered inadmissible, since the clubs accepted the rules of the tournament and competed under them throughout the season. Challenging the rules ex post (after the result) contradicts their previous conduct and violates objective good faith and legal certainty of competition.“, they sentenced.
However, the ANFP’s decision does not seem to put an end to the conflict. The owner of Unión Española, Jorge Segoviahas already announced that it will take the claim to its final consequences, which could mean a long judicial process. According to the businessman, the case could even reach the Court of Arbitration for Sports (TAS), which would further prolong the uncertainty about the future of the clubs in the First Division.