ANDn the days prior to the grand final of the BetPlay League 1-2024 between Atlético Bucaramanga and Independiente Santa Fe, all kinds of emotions, reactions and emotional moments have been experienced. And although it seems strange that there is an open conflict between a sports journalist and the coach of one of the protagonists of the final, it is what is happening between Carlos Antonio Vélez and Rafael Dudamel.
This division has become increasingly evident to the public, both due to the strong comments of the journalist born in Manizales, as well as the responses of the DT of Venezuelan nationality. Well for a response from the DT at a press conferencein which he stated that the communicator was “ungrateful person” In Bucaramanga, controversy broke out and many would like to understand where this confrontation comes from.
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Where does Carlos Antonio Vélez’s fight with Rafael Dudamel come from?
In order not to go into too many details, Dudamel was a goalkeeper for several Colombian soccer clubs: Atlético Huila, Independiente Santa Fe, Deportivo Cali, Millonarios, Cortuluá and América de Cali. Thus, not only did he become known in the Colombian media, he also settled for several years in the city of Cali and there he met his second wife.
Already as a coach and after having spent his first years in his country, even directing the youth and senior teams of Venezuelathe former goalkeeper went through Atlético Mineiro in Brazil and Universidad de Chile, and then arrived at Deportivo Cali where he was League champion in 1998 and runner-up in the Copa Libertadores in 1999. But at the same time that he took over as coach in the ‘sugar bowl’, linked as guest commentator and analyst on Caracol Televisión broadcasts that have the Gol Caracol brand.
The Venezuelan arrived to replace the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, who had this job on the Colombian channel, before taking over as coach of Ecuador and qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. Since then, the strongest criticism of Carlos Antonio Vélez, who works for Canal RCN and the sports channels Win Sports and Win Sports +.
Starting with the memories of bad experiences in intentional football and bad results leading the Venezuelan National Team, Vélez pointed unfilteredly at Dudamel.
The tablet of discord between Rafael Dudamel and Carlos Antonio Vélez
Between the tension and the low-volume criticism, A couple of episodes arrived that exploded the scandal between these 2 men with character and a history of problems. It turns out that Dudamel was coaching Cali and in the semifinal of the BetPlay 2021 Cup he faced Atlético Nacional, having some controversial plays in the first leg and a definitive action in the second leg.
After the first match played in Palmaseca, the coach complained about a clear offside and the decision not to have the VAR for this match, which caused the journalist to respond strongly to him on his radio program. Well, after the second match in Medellín, again with controversy over the penalty hand that was not sanctioned for the Caleños, Dudamel broke out at the official press conference and sent harsh messages to Vélez because the media in which he works are the same owners of Nacional.
And while he showed the image of Emmanuel Olivera’s hand, which Judge Carlos Ortega did not sanction and they did not warn from the VAR, complaints and ‘beats’ were made to Carlos Antonio Vélez in the mouth of Rafael Dudamel:
We have competed in both games. The only thing we haven’t been able to do is against arbitration. We couldn’t fight that. In Cali with a treacherous misplacement. The linesman was very well placed. And today in a play in which the ball clearly hits the hand of a Nacional defender… When we see this image we can clearly see whether the ball hit his hand or not. I have to be worried and dissatisfied because Mr. Ortega told me that the ball had not hit the player’s hand but rather the player’s abdominal area… Of course, when it is your turn to analyze a play, when it is your turn to give your opinion, but the check comes from those who are benefiting, so it is up to interpretation. When the check comes from the same company as the team that is benefiting, you have to say in your comment that it is up to interpretation
The next day, on the ‘Planeta Futbol’ program on Antena 2, the journalist’s very harsh response arrived, attacking Dudamel without filters for pointing him out for his analysis and opinions in the broadcasts: “I give the opinions I want and how I want, no one tells me what to say. I say whatever I want, I prepare myself to do it and I am willing to support it… I would tell Rafael Dudamel that he has a personality disorder “He’s misplaced, he doesn’t know what it is, coach or commentator. Choose now because part-time coaches usually end up eliminated.”.
These 2 public interventions and with direct references from both sides ended up opening the battle in the media, in statements, in broadcasts and interviews, which have not stopped until now. Vélez mocked Dudamel for some concepts in Caracol Televisión broadcasts, mocked the tablet episode in live programs and blamed him for the Cali crises. And Dudamel, in a couple of interviews, disqualified his public rival and explained that he uses his position in the media to deceive the public..
Atlético Bucaramanga, new reason for fights between Dudamel and Vélez
As time goes by, It seemed like a forgotten story, since Dudamel left Colombia after being champion with Cali and with a following campaign that left the club in the last positions.. But the year 2023 marks a change in the Colombian media, since Canal RCN joined Caracol Televisión, competing with the signal of the Colombian National Team matches, with Carlos Antonio Vélez being the commentator and leader of the broadcasts. And unexpectedly, Rafael Dudamel returned to Colombia after a bad time at Necaxa in Mexico, also returning to work with the Gol Caracol product.
Well, the fight revived, with signs from both sides, without mentioning names and with very clear references. But When Dudamel took over as technical director of Bucaramanga in December 2023, Vélez once again named his rival in front of him and challenged him to become championsince he says that the 2020 title with Cali was thanks to the work left by Alfredo Arias:
When they have to choose a coach (Bucaramanga) they bring anyone. They bring a man who with Deportivo Cali in 2022, occupied the worst position in the table in the entire history of the Colombian League since 1948…
I hope he brought the tablet, so that he can once again blame Win and those of us who commented on his defeats, as happened when he lost and came out in a clownish manner with a tablet, saying that the VAR listened to the broadcasts and did what he was told from the broadcast. If they did that, they would make fewer mistakes, Dad.
Take the Tablet. What a regret for Bucaramanga… Bucaramanga has a challenge. He is the only one of that line who has not won a title. Win it then, but with your own work, not like in Cali that you won with Arias’ work
Well now, with Atlético Bucaramanga classified to the final of the BetPlay League 1-2024, a few hours before playing against Independiente Santa Fe in the first leg at home and in a press conference in which he was asked about the constant criticism he has received from a highly recognized journalist, the strong response came. Although he did not say the name of Carlos Antonio Vélez, Rafael Dudamel was more than clear:
Everything nice that we have gathered this afternoon to waste time talking about nonsense, the most important thing is Bucaramanga and the final. To all those people who are against Atlético Bucaramanga, our fans are very clear that they are not a persona non grata for Bucaramanga, not only for the team, for the city. Unwelcome people in the city are those who, in a mediocre, arrogant and ignorant way, try to demean what the finalists have done
Many are waiting for what is going to happen in the round-trip broadcasts, in the press conferences and what will happen with any result of those led by Dudamel. But it is clear that There are ingredients of controversy and scandal around the definition of the BetPlay League 1-2024.
