MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Morales demands FIFA sanctions Chile for offensive chanting against Bolivia during Russia 2018 qualifier

Morales regretted the “provocation and aggression” suffered by the “Greens” in Chile which he described as “an offence to the Bolivian nation and to all Bolivians”.

President Evo Morales has called on the soccer authorities of Bolivia, the South American football confederation, Conmebol, and FIFA to sanction Chile for the offensive chanting towards Bolivians during the Russia 2018 Cup qualifier match played on Tuesday night in Santiago's Monumental Stadium.

 Morales regretted the “provocation and aggression” suffered by Bolivia's national team in Chile which he emphasized is “an offence to the Bolivian nation and to all Bolivians”.

“Hopefully the Bolivian Football Federation, Conmebol or FIFA will get involved in this very serious incident so that never again groups of Chileans can offend the countries that visit them”, argued Morales.

The Bolivian media reported extensively on the chanting and slurs that were heard during the Tuesday match at the Monumental stadium and immediate area, particularly one which refers to the century long Bolivian claim of a sovereign outlet to the Pacific Ocean in northern Chile.

“Olé, olé, olé, olá, el que no salta no tiene mar”, which means roughly that those “who are not jumping don't have a sea access”, was repeatedly chanted in the stadium plus a barrage of insults against Bolivia's goalkeeper, Carlos Lampe, the best player of the match.

Bolivia and Chile are confronted in the International Court of Justice in the The Hague over La Paz' sovereign sea outlet to the Pacific claim, and a recent controversy over the Silala basin, which Bolivia considers springs, but Chile a jointly shared river, and thus can use the water for irrigation..

Last May Chile's National Stadium which is the official field for the “Reds”, national team, was sanctioned and suspended two matches by FIFA for discriminatory chants during previous events.

President Morales expressed his solidarity with the “Greens” (Bolivian national team), which he said “supported aggressions, but despite all, with a great display of grit managed to tie with Chile at their place”.

Chile was really embarrassed following the tie, since it is the current holder of the Americas Centenary Cup, after defeating Argentina in the finals in US, some weeks ago, and in a similar match a year ago when it won the 2015 Americas Cup edition, also after victory over Argentina in Santiago, in both cases with Leonel Messi in the field.

Bolivia on the other hand has a poor record in South American football, although virtually unbeatable in La Paz, 3.500 meters above sea level.