National team captains of France, Denmark, and Australia —who are the opponents of Peru in the World Cup group phase— have asked the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to let Paolo Guerrero play in the 2018 World Cup, FIFPro said Monday.
Signed by Hugo Lloris (
France), Simon Kjaer (
Denmark), and Mile Jedinak (
Australia), the official letter puts forward an urgent request for clemency.
"We respectfully ask the
FIFA Council to show compassion with
Paolo Guerrero who has given his utmost for his national team since 2004 and has recently achieved one of the highest possible honors for any national team player; qualifying for the FIFA World Cup," the letter reads.
For the three captains, it would be plainly wrong to exclude him from
what should be a pinnacle of his career on the basis of a finding which confirms that he did not intend to cheat or enhance his performance with prohibited substances.
As such, they request the FIFA Council to temporally interrupt the ban imposed on the Inca player during the
2018 World Cup in Russia, with the suspension to recommence at the conclusion of Peru's participation in the competition.
"We believe that in the interest of fairness and proportionality (…) Paolo who —as everyone agrees did not cheat— should be able to participate with, and against, his fellow professionals in the World Cup," they pointed out.
As stated in the letter, the decision needs to be made in a short window of time given that the June 4 deadline for all World Cup nations to announce their
23-man squads is rapidly approaching.
The request for clemency is submitted to the FIFA Council in accordance with art. 34 par. 12 of the FIFA Statutes which stipulates that: "The Council shall deal with all matters relating to FIFA that do not fall within the sphere of responsibility of another body, in accordance with these Statutes."
It must be noted the World Players' Union (
FIFPro) has written to FIFA requesting that Peru captain Paolo Guerrero be allowed to participate in the major international soccer competition.
"We are hoping for a breakthrough in the next 24-48 hours," FIFPro wrote Sunday on Twitter.
Guerrero case
The star's defense demonstrated —with evidence— that he had never used cocaine (banned by FIFA).
In order to
seek acquittal, the player's defense appealed the decision last January.
Two days later, President Martin Vizcarra announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support Guerrero. The player's defense team will appeal to the Swiss Federal Court to have the doping ban annulled.
The athlete and Peruvian Soccer Federation President Edwin Oviedo have traveled to Switzerland, where they will meet with
FIFA Chairman Gianni Infantino.
Published: 5/21/2018