Fifa sanctioned the Colombia national team, these are the restrictions it will have to adopt for the match against Bolivia in Barranquilla

With no margin for error, the Colombia team plays its last cards to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The team led by Reinaldo Rueda will host the Bolivian national team this Thursday at the Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla with the need to cut their seven-match streak without winning or converting goals. And later, he will visit Venezuela next Tuesday in the Guayana region.

However, the 'Tricolor' will not only have to worry about seeking a positive result against its fans, but will now also face a sanction imposed on it by FIFA on Wednesday morning. This is the suspension of the popular stands (north and south) of the Metropolitano, so these spaces will not have the presence of fans.

Ramón Jesurún, president of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF), confirmed in dialogue with El Heraldo that the disabled areas are those behind the arches. Instead, the outlet explained that some billboards will be placed.

Likewise, the portal Tu Boleta, responsible for the sale of tickets for the Colombia national team matches, confirmed this determination: “Due to a fifa sanction, the north high 6, north low 6, south high 7 and south low 7 sectors of the Metropolitano de Barranquilla stadium will not be available.”

This determination was made following the incidents in the compromise against Peru, on January 28. With the 1-0 defeat against the 'Incas', several Colombian supporters, located in the western tribune, rebuked the players of the 'Tricolor' and even threw bottles and other types of objects onto the playing field.

The episode is remembered because some of the footballers of the 'Cafetero' team expressed their anger at the behavior of the fans, as was the case with Miguel Ángel Borja and James Rodríguez. The latter asked the attendees not to whistle them and, as he walked through the tunnel to the changing rooms, he let him hear some insults.

The reaction of '10' provoked divided opinions, however, a few weeks later he would apologize through his Twitch channel: “I was hot, at a time when we didn't think we were going to be because of the way it happened. Maybe I reacted the wrong way, but that's what came out. These are things that happen inside a football field, it has happened to other players. If I hurt someone, I apologize, because they are things that happen inside the camp, but many people behaved badly.”

As of last Sunday, the president of the FCF had confirmed the sale of some 26,500 ballots, which is less than previous commitments. However, the ESPN journalist, Nicolás Sierra, said that the projections of the national team's logistics team is that the sports arena will be filled, taking into account the reduction in capacity due to the fine.

The statistics invite us to think that Colombia can take the three points by the 17th date of the qualifying rounds. In the general history, the 'Tricolor' has never lost to 'La Verde' in local condition and, moreover, they have not scored it either. The last commitment under this scenario was on March 23, 2017: on that occasion the 'Cafetero' team won 1-0 with a goal from James, in the 83th minute.

Thursday, March 24:

Uruguay vs. Peru - Centenario Stadium (6:30 p.m.)

Colombia vs. Bolivia - Barranquilla Metropolitan Stadium (6:30 p.m.)

Brazil vs. Chile - Maracana Stadium (6:00 p.m.)

Paraguay vs. Ecuador - Antonio Aranda Stadium (6:30 p.m.)

Friday 25th of March:

Argentina vs. Venezuela - La Bombonera Stadium (6:30 p.m.)

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