A dramatic incident in Bolivia’s second division has gone viral after Wilstermann Cooperativas goalkeeper Gustavo Tesonotte deliberately stood aside and allowed an opponent to score a penalty he believed had been wrongly awarded.
Tesonotte, who plays for the Potosí-based club, was involved in the controversial episode during the Simón Bolívar Cup, Bolivia’s second-tier competition that provides a route to promotion to the top division.
The goalkeeper previously came through the youth system at Argentine club Banfield before moving to San Telmo, where he continued his career in Argentina’s lower divisions. He later moved to Bolivia and now plays for Wilstermann Cooperativas as the club competes for promotion.
The incident occurred during Wilstermann Cooperativas’ match against Independiente Cochabamba. The teams were level at 2-2 when referee Carlos Arteaga awarded a penalty to Independiente Cochabamba in the 93rd minute.
Tesonotte and his teammates strongly disagreed with the decision, insisting that no foul had been committed. Following their protests, the goalkeeper chose not to attempt a save when the penalty was taken, allowing the opposing player to score without resistance.
The goal gave Independiente Cochabamba a 3-2 victory.
Tesonotte later explained that the decision to protest in such a manner was made collectively by his team.
“We were playing for a qualification to be promoted and that they play us that way did not seem to me, that’s why we made the decision,” he said.
Speaking on the programme Nadie nos para on Rock & Pop, the goalkeeper added sarcastically: “If they want to help the Independiente Cochabamba team so much, that’s fine, that they end up winning the game.”
Reports also indicated that Tesonotte had appealed directly to the opposing striker, Junior Adiri, to deliberately miss the penalty because of what he considered an unjust decision. Adiri, however, went ahead and converted the spot-kick.
Tesonotte later recalled his exchange with the referee, saying: “When I complained to him, his words were: ‘I only took a penalty’. I told him that it wasn’t like that because we are playing for qualification, we are playing for our dream of qualifying”.
According to the goalkeeper, the referee responded: “Come on, stop! Stop denying.”
The controversy subsequently led to disciplinary action against Arteaga. The Refereeing Commission of the Bolivian Football Federation suspended the referee indefinitely for awarding what it determined was a foul that did not occur.
Tesonotte welcomed the decision, saying: “I think it’s the right thing to do, because he can’t be so irresponsible to take a penalty that wasn’t taken.”
The goalkeeper also called for the introduction of video assistant refereeing in the competition, saying: “It would be good if they implement VAR so that it does not happen again.”