Chaos in Zamora: CD Tenerife boss forced to pay €15,000 to avoid match abandonment
CD Tenerife’s match in Zamora descended into chaos on Saturday after a last-minute kit dispute pushed the fixture to the brink of cancellation. Just minutes before kick-off, the referee ruled that Tenerife’s white home strip clashed with Zamora’s red-and-white kit, despite the away side having received prior approval from the league to travel with only one set of shirts.
The referee instructed both teams to return to the changing rooms and then ordered Zamora to change their kit. The home club refused, arguing that as hosts they were entitled to wear their traditional colours.
Tensions escalated, kick-off was delayed by fifteen minutes, and thousands of fans, including 200 Tenerife supporters who had endured a long, wet and freezing journey, were left waiting in the stands as the match hovered on the edge of abandonment.
Tenerife owner Rayco García intervened to negotiate, but Zamora remained firm. Instead, they issued an ultimatum: pay €15,000 or the match would not go ahead. Keen to avoid punishing their travelling fanbase, Tenerife reluctantly agreed, with García covering the cost personally.
When play finally resumed, Tenerife ensured the controversy did not overshadow the football. Los Blanquiazules secured a hard-fought 1–0 win, extending their lead at the top of the table to ten points in what is shaping up to be a historic, record-breaking season.
Main image: Players promoted from the academy at Tenerife celebrate another fine victory.
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