Javier Bolivar Faces Lengthy Ban After Striking Vanessa Ceballos During Primera C Match as Football Authorities Demand Exemplary Punishment
A Colombian footballer faces potential career-ending sanctions after slapping female referee Vanessa Ceballos across the face during a third division match, sparking widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger protection of match officials.
Javier Bolivar struck referee Ceballos in the 66th minute of Wednesday’s Primera C clash between Real Alianza Cataquera and Deportivo Quique, with footage of the assault going viral across social media platforms and drawing condemnation from football authorities, players’ unions and women’s rights groups.
The shocking incident occurred when Bolivar, who was sitting on the substitutes’ bench, was shown a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct. Before Ceballos could fully raise the card, the Real Alianza player stormed towards her and struck her across the face with his right hand as he turned to walk away.
Referee’s Furious Reaction Captured on Camera
Video footage shows Ceballos reacting instinctively to the assault, attempting to kick out at the retreating Bolivar before team-mates and officials rushed to restrain her from further confrontation.
Players from both sides expressed immediate outrage, with one goalkeeper forcefully shoving Bolivar away from the referee whilst other players formed a protective barrier around Ceballos.
The referee manifested feeling humiliated,” according to social media posts from Colombian football observers who witnessed the incident, which has been described as “shameful” and “unprecedented” in Colombian football.
The Colombian Football Federation swiftly issued a statement condemning the incident “in the strongest terms”, emphasising its “rejection of all forms of violence, especially gender-based violence”.
“No act of verbal or physical aggression against women should be tolerated or accepted in the sports field,” the federation declared, as pressure mounts for exemplary disciplinary action.
Player’s Bizarre Defence Fails to Convince
In a lengthy Instagram apology posted hours after the incident, Bolivar claimed he was attempting to grab the whistle from Ceballos’s mouth rather than deliberately striking her, a defence that has been met with widespread scepticism given the clear video evidence.
“I recognise that my behaviour was disrespectful and inappropriate, unbecoming of an athlete and a human being,” Bolivar wrote. “By foolishly trying to take the whistle out of the referee’s mouth, I acted incorrectly, sending a negative message that should never have happened.”
The player insisted: “I want to make it absolutely clear that at no time was there any physical aggression toward the referee.”
However, his explanation has done little to calm the backlash, with fans, pundits and fellow professionals highlighting that the footage clearly shows a deliberate strike across the referee’s face.
“However, I understand that my gesture was offensive and portrayed her as contrary to the values of football and respect,” Bolivar continued in his statement. “Therefore, I humbly apologise to her, her family, the women, and everyone who was affected by what happened.”
Players’ Union Demands Protection for Officials
The Colombian players’ union has voiced strong support for Ceballos, insisting that referees must be protected and respected on the field, particularly women officials who face additional challenges in men’s football.
Roxana Arrieta, President of the Magdalena Football League, condemned Bolivar’s actions, whilst football authorities across Colombia have called for immediate implementation of stronger safety mechanisms to protect referees, especially women overseeing men’s matches.
“For Ceballos, the incident is another reminder of the growing challenges referees face in the modern game, where abuse from players, coaches, and fans remains a major issue,” sources close to the official told local media.
The incident has highlighted what Spanish newspaper Marca described as the “ongoing problem of gender-based violence and disrespect for women in men’s professional sports”, with calls growing for lifetime bans for players who assault match officials.
International Pattern of Referee Assaults
The Colombian incident forms part of a troubling global pattern of violence against match officials that FIFA has repeatedly warned undermines the integrity of football.
In 2021, Brazilian amateur player Willian Ribeiro punched referee Rodrigo Crivellaro during a lower-division match, leaving the official temporarily unconscious. Similar cases have been reported in Argentina, Mexico and across Europe, prompting calls for stronger sanctions and security measures.
In Nigeria, assaults on referees have become a recurring issue, with an April 2023 incident during an NPFL match between Remo Stars and Gombe United seeing a referee assaulted in the dressing room due to inadequate security. The league responded with point deductions, fines and compensation orders.
“FIFA has repeatedly stressed the need to protect referees, warning that violence against officials undermines the integrity of the game,” a spokesperson for the world governing body stated in previous guidance on referee safety.
Third Division’s Amateur Status Under Scrutiny
The Categoría Primera C, Colombia’s third division, operates as an amateur competition organised by the División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano (Difútbol), an entity dependent on the Colombian Football Federation.
Despite being called Primera C and sitting within the federative football system, it does not grant promotion to the professional Primera B, which is organised by the División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano (Dimayor).
According to a 2020 study, Colombia was the only country in the top 20 of the FIFA ranking lacking a third tier football league properly linked to its league system, a situation that some observers suggest contributes to lower standards of discipline and professionalism.
The tournament has struggled with organisational issues since promotion and relegation between the second and third divisions ended in 2003, with various attempts to reform the competition failing to reach agreement between Difútbol and Dimayor.
Women Referees Breaking Barriers
Ceballos is among a growing number of women referees breaking barriers in Colombian men’s football, facing additional scrutiny and challenges in what remains a male-dominated environment.
The incident has reignited debate over respect, discipline and the safety of match officials at all levels of Colombian sport, with women’s rights groups calling for stronger protections for female referees working in men’s competitions.
“In Colombia, where women referees are increasingly breaking barriers in men’s football, the latest incident has reignited debate over respect, discipline, and the safety of match officials at all levels of the sport,” noted football governance experts.
Lengthy Ban Expected
Colombian football authorities are expected to announce disciplinary measures imminently, with Bolivar potentially facing a lengthy suspension that could effectively end his playing career.
Legal experts suggest the player could face sanctions beyond football, with assault charges possible given the clear video evidence of the attack.
“Football authorities in Colombia are under pressure to make an example of Bolivar to deter similar acts in the future,” sources within the federation confirmed.
The incident has drawn comparisons to high-profile cases of player violence, with many calling for Bolivar to receive a lifetime ban from all football activities.
Bolivar’s Empty Promises
In his Instagram statement, Bolivar pledged: “I firmly reject any form of violence, especially against women. Women deserve all our respect, care, and admiration. My commitment is to work on my personal and athletic growth so as to never again repeat an act that violates anyone’s dignity.”
However, such promises ring hollow for those who witnessed the assault, with social media users describing the player as a “degenerate who should never play again” and calling for FIFA to intervene directly.
Mexican newspaper La Jornada, which first shared the video on social media platform X, described the incident as descent into “chaos”, whilst football fans worldwide have expressed solidarity with Ceballos.
As Colombian football grapples with this latest scandal, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the violence and disrespect that match officials, particularly women, continue to face in football across the globe.
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