Cienciano player alleges bribery attempt by Montevideo City Torque official

Santiago Arias, a Uruguayan midfielder for the Peruvian club Cienciano, has alleged that a high-ranking official from Montevideo City Torque offered money to players to induce red cards during a Copa Sudamericana quarter-final match.

The incident reportedly occurred during the second leg of the series in Uruguay, where Montevideo City Torque secured a 3-0 victory (3-2 on aggregate) to advance to the tournament semifinals for the first time. Arias stated that the Cienciano squad “categorically” rejected the bribe, emphasizing that the team values prestige and loyalty over illicit payments.

Arias noted that the alleged offer came from someone he identified as the “president” of City Torque, though he acknowledged the club does not officially list a president in its organizational structure. The allegations surfaced amid social media provocations from the Uruguayan side regarding Cienciano’s reliance on the high altitude of Cusco. Neither Cienciano nor Montevideo City Torque has issued an immediate response to the claims.