Red card for Panama soccer as nearly $7 million seized

THE SEIZURE of by a brewery of nearly $7 million from Panama’s Soccer Federation (Fepafut) by a brewing company will affect all soccer in the country, says the Federation’s president.

The loss of most of the Federation’s financial assets comes at a time when the country’s soccer star seemed to be rising, as the National team edges towards a place in the 2010 World Cup in Rio and has moved up in world rankings and The U17 team has qualified for the U-17 World Cup in the UAE.
Pedro Chaluja said on Thursday April 26 tonight that in spite of the seizure by court order, the match between the national teams of Mexico and Panama will not be impacted.
The official said that the Fepafut does not handle the stadium box office, so it won't be affected, but the maintenance of the pitch at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium, where Panama's national team plays, may be affected.
According to Chaluja, Fepafut was unable to sign a $40,000 contract for field maintenance due to the court order.
Chaluja also explained that he does not know the reasons for the lawsuit says La Prensa
Fepafut was informed Thursday that Cervecería del Barú, which makes Panama beer, had filed a complaint against it for $6 million.
Fepafut said it is "incomprehensible" that the court arrived at that figure because the contract with the beer company was $120,000 for four years (2010-2014).
Chaluja did not go into details, saying it is a legal issue. "Until lawyers tell me what I can or I can't say, I cannot speak," he said.
The differences between the parties began in December 2012 when Fepafut announced the signing of a new contract with Cervecería Nacional which makes Atlas beer.
The new contract would be until 2018 for $10 million.