América de Cali will retain the points earned on the pitch during the opening rounds of the Liga BetPlay II-2026 season, but right-back Yhormar Hurtado has been ruled ineligible for the remainder of the campaign by the Disciplinary Committee of the Dimayor. According to official league bulletins and local reports, the ruling addresses a wave of formal complaints regarding the defender’s registration status across multiple clubs within a single calendar year.
The Disciplinary Ruling and Standings Impact
The controversy centers on whether Hurtado’s sequence of clubs during 2026 violated international transfer regulations. Citing Article 5.4 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, rival clubs argued that a footballer cannot play official matches for three distinct teams in one season under standard association football rules.
Internacional de Bogotá filed the initial complaint following América’s 2-0 victory on July 26, 2026, at Estadio El Campín, where Hurtado started at right-back before coming off for Mateo Castillo in the 86th minute, as detailed by Infobae. Boyacá Chicó subsequently lodged a second formal demand after América’s 7-0 rout in the second round. Additional pressure mounted when Independiente Santa Fe and Alianza FC also raised objections over subsequent fixtures.
Despite these protests, the Dimayor Disciplinary Committee resolved in Bulletin No. 084 that América de Cali did not commit an infraction severe enough to warrant points forfeiture. The club officially keeps the six points secured against Inter de Bogotá and Boyacá Chicó, and the initial petitions for points deductions were dismissed. However, the committee simultaneously declared Hurtado ineligible for any further official Dimayor competition matches through the end of 2026.
Player Availability and Legal Fallout
América de Cali manager David González voiced his displeasure over the sanction against his defender, stating in remarks covered by El País and AS Colombia that the club must fight the ruling and arguing that depriving a professional athlete of their right to work is inappropriate. González also claimed in statements reported by Noticias Caracol that the governing body attempted a compromise to shield the club from a massive registration dispute.
For the time being, Hurtado must sit out official league fixtures, though club officials have indicated he will remain integrated into training sessions while the legal discussions continue. The setback forces manager David González to lean on alternative options at right-back, such as Marcos Mina, who stepped into the squad during Hurtado’s provisional seven-day suspension earlier in August.
Meanwhile, the legal battle may not be over.
What Comes Next for América de Cali
América de Cali prepares for its upcoming Liga BetPlay fixtures under heightened scrutiny, balancing roster adjustments in the wake of Hurtado’s suspension while monitoring any potential appeals from rival institutions at the international level. Supporters and club management await further legal clarifications from sports authorities as the domestic campaign progresses.
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