Luis Alejandro Amaya E.
Sports Editorial, November 27 (IF). – The year 1979 was one of wars and revolutions that challenged global geopolitics, the consequences of which we still see today.
In Iran, throughout that year, the process that led to the establishment of an anti-Western theocratic dictatorship headed by Ayatollah Khomeini was consolidated after the fall of the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and not far from there, in Afghanistan, the Soviets invaded the country to impose a pro-Moscow government in Kabul.
A conflict that, due to its prolongation until 1989, was seen as the Soviet Union’s Vietnam, and which certainly helped bring down the communist Iron Curtain giant in 1991.
But in Bolivia another “war” was about to break out due to an apparent error of referee and a questionable injury.
In the final year of the busy 1970s, Jorge Wilstermann needed Cochabamba to draw with Olimpia to qualify for the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores.
But Hugo Talavera’s goal to put Paraguay ahead and the Bolivian team’s lack of footballing acumen made the atmosphere tense at Estadio Felix Capriles on that cold night of March 29.
The situation was not helped much by Brazilian referee Jose Roberto Wright, who decided in the 56th minute to stop the violent match by sending off Paraguayan player Enrique Villalba and four local players: striker Juan Sanchez and defenders Miguel Bengolia, Carlos Arias and Eduardo Navarro.
The match was practically over thanks to a tough Wright.
Since then, the police have been overwhelmed to contain the fans’ anger, while the players on the field seemed more interested in fistfights than football.
Evaristo Isasi took advantage of the overwhelming numerical superiority to score a 0-2 equalizer for Olimpia in the 63rd minute.
With nothing else to do, coach Roberto Pavicic called on midfielder Johnny Villarroel injured.
With only six Wilstermann players on the field, Brazilian Wright had no alternative and ended the match in the 70th minute.
Then began the ordeal of the Olympia players and referees, escaping the attacks of the fans that invaded the field and taking refuge in the locker rooms.
The visiting delegation and the referees were forced to wait hours to leave the stadium, which was banned by CONMEBOL for several years.
To this day, Villarroel confirms that his injury was real and not fake, causing the end of that violent match.
Years later, he added spicy details. He told reporters that he saw Wright leaving the field dressed as a woman.
The discussion seemed to be heated, but as if an agreement had been reached between the gentlemen, the matter was not discussed again. Evie