Falcao, Tapia admit on-pitch discussions for World Cup qualifier draw
Colombia striker Radamel Falcao and Peru midfielder Renato Tapia have admitted to an on-pitch discussion concerning the benefits of a draw for both sides during the latter stages of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.
Without context, the conversation has little meaning, but in consideration of the frenzied South American finale where six clubs separated by four points vied for three automatic World Cup berths and a fifth-placed play-off spot, the discreet discussion has plenty of implications.
"We knew what was happening in the other matches, we were playing with (the knowledge of) the other results and in that moment (I tried) to transmit that (to Peru)," Falcao said after the 1-1 draw, courtesy of Alistair Tweedale from the Telegraph.
Video shows Falcao obscuring his mouth while speaking to Tapia at the Estadio Nacional de Lima, though the Feyenoord midfielder refutes speculation that he and the Monaco goal-machine were colluding.
La imagen de las Eliminatorias es de @PasoaPaso: Falcao convenciendo uno x uno a los peruanos de arreglar el empate en el final del partido. pic.twitter.com/RBNuumoJFd
— Lucas Beltramo (@LucasBeltramo) October 11, 2017
"In the last five minutes, the Colombians approached us. They knew what the situation was in the other games," Tapia added.
"So we managed the game as we needed to ... I spoke with Radamel, who told me we were both qualified (as things stood), but it's football and we play to win."
Falcao had surely caught wind of the fact that Chile was down 3-0 to group winner Brazil, meaning Peru was set to vault the two-time defending Copa America winner for the fifth-placed play-off date with New Zealand.
| Pos. | Team | Points | GD +/- |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 41 | +30 |
| 2 | Uruguay | 31 | +12 |
| 3 | Argentina | 28 | +12 |
| 4 | Colombia | 27 | +2 |
| 5 | Peru | 26 | +1 |
| 6 | Chile | 26 | -1 |
| 7 | Paraguay | 24 | -6 |
In the end, the 1-1 scoreline favoured both sides, and like Tapia, Peru coaching staff member and former Newcastle star Nolberto Solano had denied any wrongdoing.
"We needed to win, them too. What pact? That's speculation," Solano conceded. "Obviously, at the end, we knew what the other results were and you tell yourself: 'calm it down a bit, we mustn't take any risks.'"