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SportsCosta Rica's San Carlos FC banned 10 years, three players banned up to 35 years for match-fixing
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The Costa Rican Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee has imposed severe sanctions on San Carlos Football Club and three players for match-fixing. The club, which competed in the Costa Rican Second Division under the franchise of Municipal Garabito, was banned from all football-related activities for ten years, effective July 20, 2026. The ban follows an investigation by the Integrity Office that confirmed manipulation in four matches during the 2025 season, including lopsided losses to Quepos Cambute, Cofutpa, Municipal Garabito, and Jicaral. Additionally, three players—Fabián Rodríguez, Hansell Arauz, and Henry Cooper—were penalized on June 29, 2026. Rodríguez received the harshest penalty, a 35-year ban, for attempting to recruit others into the scheme. The club was also expelled from the league, marking one of the strongest anti-match-fixing actions by the federation in recent years.
Source report
Hupu Football News – July 30, 2026
The Disciplinary Committee of the Costa Rican Football Federation has confirmed that San Carlos Football Club manipulated four matches in 2025, resulting in a ten-year ban from all football-related activities.
The decision, one of the strongest signals against match-fixing in recent years, takes effect on July 20, 2026, and was officially notified to all affiliated leagues on July 28.
The resolution states: "Municipal Garabito FC (also known as San Carlos Football Club) is prohibited from engaging in any football-related activities for ten years."
Investigation and Findings
The penalty follows an investigation by the Integrity Office of the Costa Rican Football Association, which determined that manipulation occurred in four matches played in 2025, all part of the Costa Rican Second Division (Liga de Ascenso).
Manipulated Matches
- San Carlos Football Club 2–8 Quepos Cambute (January 19)
- San Carlos Football Club 1–5 Cofutpa (February 9)
- Municipal 6–2 San Carlos Football Club (March 1)
- San Carlos Football Club 2–5 Guácimo (March 17)
San Carlos Football Club participated in the 2024–2025 season of the Costa Rican Second Division after obtaining the franchise of Municipal Garabito.
Earlier Penalties
The investigation had already produced consequences weeks earlier. On June 29, the Disciplinary Committee penalized three players suspected of involvement in the same match-fixing scheme:
- Fabián Rodríguez – received a 35-year ban, the harshest penalty, after it was found he attempted to recruit others to participate in match-fixing.
- Hansell Arauz
- Henry Cooper
San Carlos Football Club was expelled from the league, marking one of the harshest penalties ever imposed by the Costa Rican Football Federation on any institution.
Source: ESPN Latin America
Source
虎扑 - 足球Neutral / independent
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Costa Rican football club banned 10 years, three players banned up to 35 years for match-fixing