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Published 07:01 IST, November 13th 2020

Bolivian soccer official arrested during World Cup qualifier

Bolivian investigators arrested the interim president of the country's soccer federation during a South American World Cup qualifying match

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Bolivian investigators arrested the interim president of the country's soccer federation during a South American World Cup qualifying match.

Marcos Rodríguez is accused of corruption and was taken into custody at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, where Bolivia lost 3-2 to Ecuador on Thursday. Local media broadcast a video showing Rodríguez being escorted by police during halftime.

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Rolando Aramayo, who is on the executive committee of Bolivia's football federation, confirmed the arrest to radio Fides.

“This an excess, but I won’t make more comments,” Aramayo said, adding that the meeting to elect the new president, scheduled for Friday, is now uncertain.

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Rodríguez has been in the role on an interim basis since the federation's president César Salinas died of COVID-19 in July.

Local media reported police tried to arrest Rodríguez at the hotel where the election will take place, but he had already left for the stadium.

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Bolivian soccer is in crisis, with club executives fighting over power in the federation. The country's national championship has been suspended since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic and was not allowed to restart because of those disputes.

Image credits: AP

07:01 IST, November 13th 2020