by Rod Hughes

That “ïncentive” money Alajuela soccer players were paid to win in their final match of the season against Cartago will go to charity, decreed the Alajuela club’s hierarchy. The money was paid by Guapiles businessman Mario Villaplana so his club, Santos, might avoid being knocked out of the First Division.

But all was in vain. Santos was supposed to win its match to avoid being bumped down to the Second Division, but merely tied. Alajuela obediently won over Cartago. (If all had gone according to Villaplana’s calulations, it would have been Cartago knocked out of the division and into the equivalent of the bush leagues in baseball.)

The whole affair left a bad taste in fans’ mouths, but the ruling soccer body in the country, FEDFUT, has no rule about being paid a bribe to win, although all hell would have broken loose had they been paid to lose. The Alajuela front office held a press conference to announce its decision to order the players to give the money to a charitable institution.

To be fair, the “incentive” was hardly a king’s ransom. Originally it was reported as five million colons but Alajuela midfielder Harold Wallace said it was only four million, about $8,000 at the colon’s current rollercoaster exchange value. Presumeably, it would have been divided among the 25-player roster.

A message, proportedly from the players in on the deal, was read at the front office’s press conference begging pardon of Alajuela fans and the club’s board of directors. But midfielder Wallace, after the conference was over, was unrepentant and blamed the press for making it a big deal. “I haven’t committee a crime, I haven’t robbed anyone, I haven’t killed anyone. We made an error…In Mexico or Spain, these thing happen and not for $8,000 but much more… I continue to insist that, under the regulations, we did nothing wrong because it’s permitted,” he said.

Hummm… If it isn’t illegal go for it, eh?