Ayacucho FC’s hopes of returning to Peru’s top flight have been dashed. The Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) has officially confirmed that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), based in Switzerland, ruled against the club in its legal battle. The decision is final and cannot be appealed, so the ‘zorros’ will not play in the Liga 1 in the 2027 season and will remain in the second division.
How the dispute began
The conflict dates back to the closing stages of the 2025 campaign. On 8 November, Ayacucho hosted Comerciantes Unidos, and the home side led 1-0, a result that mattered greatly in their fight to avoid relegation.
With stoppage time being played, the referee suspended the match after fans invaded the pitch. Disorder broke out, and missiles were thrown from the stands by supporters of the home team, which brought the game to an abrupt end.
Sanctions and appeals
Following the violence, the FPF’s Disciplinary Committee found the club institutionally responsible. Under the regulations, Comerciantes Unidos were awarded a 3-0 victory by forfeit. That change reshuffled the table and dropped Ayacucho into the direct relegation zone.
The club challenged the decision through every level of the national system without success, then took the case to Lausanne. Its aim at CAS was to overturn the administrative result, recover the lost points and secure its return to the Liga 1.
CAS rejected all of the club’s arguments. The ruling upheld both the federation’s procedure and the referee’s decision to suspend the match, closing off any further avenue of challenge.
A harsh lesson
The verdict is a severe blow for Ayacucho, which now has to accept its place in the second tier. The case also serves as a stark warning about how fan violence in stadiums can directly determine a club’s sporting fate.
Source: depor.com
