Players' group wants banned Peru captain to play at World Cup

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FIFPro, the worldwide representative organization for professional footballers, has written to the sport's world governing body FIFA to request that banned Peru captain Paolo Guerrero be allowed to participate in next month’s World Cup.

Guerrero has been banned over cocaine contained in a cup of tea.

FIFPro said on Twitter that "We are hoping for a breakthrough in the next 24-48 hours."

Screenshot from Twitter

The move came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to extend the ban to 14 months after an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) of FIFA's initial ban of six months

The suspension means the 34-year-old leading scorer for Peru will miss the World Cup in Russia, where his country will appear at a finals for the first time in 36 years.

Earlier, FIFPro issued a statement saying it “considers the ban unfair and disproportionate” for the player “accidentally ingesting a banned substance.”

VCG Photo

Tea infused with coca leaves, which are used as the raw ingredient in cocaine, is popular in Andean countries and a traditional treatment for altitude sickness, according to reports.

FIFPro said Guerrero had “no intent to cheat”, and “that there was no performance-enhancing effect.”

It also criticized the WADA code, claiming it had been imposed on football without properly consulting the players. It called on “FIFA and other football stakeholders to immediately review how to change anti-doping rules in football so that they serve the best interests of the game and protect the fundamental rights of players.”

Screenshot from Twitter comments

Twitter users have welcomed FIFPro’s efforts. @ElderRodriguezA commented “Please, justice for #PaoloGuerrero . The World Cup is his last dream.”

And @laconvocada said, “Thanks so much @FIFPro We are sure you are right with this decision because PERÚ deserve his Captain Paolo Guerrero, he is innocent.”

Peru will face challenges in the World Cup in Group C with France, Australia, and Denmark.

(with inputs from Reuters)