FIFA sanctions and relegates Atlético San Cristóbal for serious violations of sporting integrity

SANTO DOMINGO. – The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced this Friday the immediate expulsion of Atlético San Cristóbal from the current season of the Dominican Republic Football League (LDF) 2025-26, after confirming the club’s participation in activities related to match manipulation.

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The decision was issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which communicated the sanction through a notification sent from Zurich, Switzerland. In the document, the entity establishes that the team will be relegated to the LDF Expansión for the next season, in accordance with the provisions of Article 20 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which sanctions any form of alteration or corruption in official competitions.

“Atlético San Cristóbal club is expelled from the Dominican League (LDF) 2025-26 and the first team is relegated to the LDF Expansion starting next season for violating article 20 of the CDF, after participating in activities related to match-fixing,” the communication states.

In addition, FIFA instructed the Dominican Football Federation (Fedofútbol) to coordinate with its office an educational prevention plan, aimed at combating match-fixing and reinforcing the integrity of competitions in the country.

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A New Crisis for the Historic Soccer Plaza of San Cristóbal

The sanction comes amid one of the worst sporting campaigns recorded by Atlético San Cristóbal, who are last in the standings with just two points, the result of two draws and 11 defeats in 13 matches. With each presentation, the club was extending a negative world record: the longest streak of matches without a win for a professional team.

This Saturday, the team was scheduled to visit Moca FC, in what for years was considered a classic of Dominican soccer. However, the expulsion immediately removes the team from the league schedule.

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Repercussions for Dominican Soccer

The measure represents one of the most severe punishments a Dominican club has received in its recent history and revives alarms about the impact of illegal betting and match-fixing in national sports. FIFA, by demanding a prevention plan, sends a direct message about the need to strengthen control, education, and transparency mechanisms in all instances of Dominican football. Source: Diario Libre.