After various speculations that anticipated the newsthis Wednesday it became official that the Argentine coach José Pekerman is no longer the coach of the Venezuelan soccer team, after 15 months of activity with Vinotinto. This news came amid various rumors about non-payment to DT and breach of contract, so it is still controversial.
“The Venezuelan Football Federation -FVF- officially communicates the termination of the employment relationship with Pascual Lezcano and José Néstor Pekerman“, published the organization, without giving further details.
Pekerman, 73, took command of Vinotinto in November 2021 with the promise of leading a restructuring of soccer in the only country in South America that has never qualified for the World Cup. Lezcano, his agent, held the position of manager of national teams.
The brief statement from the FVF comes after hours of press reports on Pekerman’s departure.
“For the FVF It is essential that all those who make up our work team share the highest standards of commitment and delivery“added the text. “We will continue to work to ensure those standards are met.giving the best for our sport, with professionalism, seriousness and rigor”.
Non-compliance with payments and working conditions demanded by Pekerman were the trigger for the breakleading to the resignation of the coach, according to reports published by the Argentine press.
However, rReports in Venezuela indicate that the cause of the break would have been “irregularities” in the management of Lezcano, which would have been detected in an audit.
Neither Pekerman nor the FVF have publicly confirmed any of the versions.
The continuity of Pekerman and members of his coaching staff such as Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batista have been questioned in recent days. Batista, paradoxically, is now being considered as one of the options to replace him.
Pekerman’s balance with Vinotinto
José Pekerman led the Venezuelan team in the last four dates of the catastrophic qualifying for the Qatar World Cup 2022in which the team barely added 10 of 54 possible points and closed in the last position.
One win and three losses was the balance under the command of the Argentine.
The veteran coach had been the bet of the FVF with the endorsement of his successful past: he led his native Argentina in the World Cup in Germany-2006 and Colombia in Brazil-2014 and Russia-2018 and had previously been three-time U-20 world champion at head of the Argentine national team in 1995, 1997 and 2001.
Pekerman’s predecessor, the Portuguese Jose Peseiro, resigned from Vinotinto denouncing a salary debt of 14 months. It was already paid.
The Venezuelan Leo González was interim coach while the FVF closed an agreement with the Argentine.
Venezuela will now have to look for a coach against the clock with a view to the start of the South American qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, which will be organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It is expected, in the absence of official confirmation, that the qualifying start in September.
The Red Wine has scheduled friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan on March 24 and 28.
* With information from EFE
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