Junior de Barranquilla Coach Alleges Match Fixing by Seven Players

A high-profile match-fixing scandal has shaken Colombian women’s football, with Junior de Barranquilla parting ways with its head coach under troubling circumstances. The situation took a sharp turn when the now former coach, Yinaris García, went public with accusations against a group of her own players.

Good to know

• Junior de Barranquilla cut ties with Yinaris García after her two-year stint as head coach.
• García alleges that seven players were involved in match-fixing during recent seasons.
• The club appointed Sandra Narváez as interim head coach following García’s exit.

García’s departure from Junior de Barranquilla was quickly followed by an explosive statement on her personal social media. She claimed that several team members revealed disturbing information after hearing about her dismissal. According to García, seven players from the women’s squad were implicated in match-fixing, allegedly influencing outcomes in both the current and past league campaigns.

Her message included: “The decision to terminate my employment was communicated to the players yesterday, which led to discontent among some team members. As a result, I was given evidence suggesting that poor results in several matches, both in the current and previous league seasons, were due to unsportsmanlike conduct by a group of seven players involved in match-fixing.”

Junior de Barranquilla confirmed García’s contract was ended “unilaterally” and swiftly named Sandra Narváez as the interim coach. The club has not responded publicly to the allegations of match-fixing but made it clear that the coaching transition was official.

Match-fixing concerns have not been isolated to Junior. In recent weeks, former player Eduardo Pimentel shared similar claims, pointing to irregularities in a goalless draw between Boyacá Chicó and Santa Fe at El Campín. Allegations have ranged from manipulation of final scores to specific in-game actions like corner kicks.