Bolivian goalkeeper refuses to save penalty in protest

A major controversy has erupted in the Bolivian Copa Simón Bolívar following a match between Independiente Cochabamba and Wilstermann Cooperativas. In the 93rd minute of a 2-2 draw, referee Carlos Arteaga awarded a penalty to Independiente, a decision that video footage and subsequent reviews by the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) described as “inexistent.”

In a coordinated protest, Wilstermann Cooperativas goalkeeper Gustavo Tesonotte refused to attempt a save. Tesonotte stood by the goalpost with his back to the ball, allowing Ernesto Adiri to easily score and secure a 3-2 victory for Independiente. Tesonotte later stated the decision was a collective protest by his teammates against what they perceived as an unfair attempt to influence the promotion race.

The FBF's National Referees Commission has indefinitely suspended Carlos Arteaga from all federation tournaments, citing that his decision on a non-existent foul directly impacted the final result. The incident has reignited debates regarding the lack of VAR technology in the second division.