Esperança Forced into Relegation Playoff Despite Default Win Over Santa Coloma

The Andorran Football Federation's (FAF) Competition Committee ruled that CF Esperança must enter a relegation playoff after a dramatic final matchday in the Multisegur League, despite awarding the team a 3-0 default win over UE Santa Coloma for fielding ineligible defender Èric Mateu.

The decision, issued in an urgent Friday evening meeting, addressed Esperança's protest over a league match the previous Sunday, which Santa Coloma had won on the pitch. Mateu, registered with UE Santa Coloma B, was deemed to violate article 9.1a of the FAF General Regulations. The rule prohibits players from a club's second team from featuring for the first team in the final four matchdays unless they have played at least five games with their registered squad that season. Alongside the points award, Santa Coloma received a financial penalty.

Entering Saturday's unified kickoffs—one point behind CE Carroi—Esperança hosted FC Ordino at 4pm at the Estadi Nacional, while Carroi faced champions Inter d'Escaldes at the same time in Encamp. Esperança trailed 0-2 before rallying to a 2-2 draw, only for an Ordino goalkeeper's last-gasp save to deny a winner. Carroi, under Fernando Vidal, claimed direct survival with a 2-1 upset over Inter, scoring in the closing minutes.

Carroi had submitted counter-arguments during the process, anticipating the impact on the relegation battle. Fourth-placed FC Santa Coloma, on 44 points and led by Iñaki Alonso, watched closely but stayed focused on a potential UEFA license.

UE Santa Coloma, backed by Mexican owners linked to Spain's Lorca Deportiva, has pursued UEFA Conference League preliminaries despite licensing delays and the league sanction.

Esperança, coached by Rui Beja, now awaits a playoff opponent, likely Sporting Club Escaldes, pending Sunday's Segunda Divisió promotion playoff final. Separately, Casa de Portugal can secure promotion with a win over La Massana, holding a one-point edge.