Deportivo Cuenca financial and administrative crisis

Deportivo Cuenca has faced significant financial instability characterized by unpaid wages for both professional players and administrative staff. In early October, players briefly halted training to protest three months of outstanding salaries and unpaid Copa Sudamericana prize money. Following negotiations with club president Eduardo Álvarez, an agreement was reached for partial payment of one month of owed wages.

By late October, the situation escalated into a broader administrative reorganization. The club appointed Juan Mateo Cajas as executive director under a contract with GFI to stabilize the institution, which includes a planned forensic audit to assess total debts. Despite these efforts, labor issues persist, with staff reportedly unpaid for four months and players nearing three months of arrears.

Furthermore, the club faces external regulatory pressure from FIFA, which issued two registration bans in late September that may restrict the ability to register new players. To achieve stability for its 2027 project, the club estimates it requires USD 2 million.