The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has disqualified Inter Moengo Tapoe and CD Olimpia from the CONCACAF League for ‘serious breachers of integrity rules’ that occurred after CD Olimpia’s 6-0 victory on 21 September. The CAF examined a video (below), which appears to show Ronnie Brunswijk, President of Inter Moengo, paying CD Olimpia players after the match.

Video was streamed tonight from Olimpia's locker room that appears to show Ronnie Brunswijk giving people in the locker room cash. He also leaves with an Olimpia shirt.pic.twitter.com/eQ1Vk928Bl

— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) September 22, 2021

Brunswijk has also been sanctioned with a three year ban by CONCACAF for his actions. The 60 year old played in the match before being substituted by his son, Damian. He is also Vice President of Suriname and in 2000, was sentenced to six years imprisonment by an Amsterdam court for attempting to traffic 61kg of cocaine into The Netherlands. 

In a Facebook post (below), Brunswijk claimed that his actions were legitimate. ‘On 21 September we came out against a Honduran club Olimpia and they played great football’, it reads. ‘Olimpia played a fair game and rightly won 6-0. After consultation with the manager I rewarded the Honduran team. I only gave the reward out of gratitude to the players. I will continue to work for top sport.’

However, CD Olimpia took a very different view. ‘Our participation in the Concacaf League tournament definitely did not end as we would have liked’, read a statement. ‘We were preparing to do our best, as has been a characteristic of our institution, but unfortunately this time aspects outside of football started by Mr. Ronnie Brunswijk leave us eliminated.

‘The incidents that took place in our club’s dressing room after the 21 September game against Inter Moengo Tapoe in Suriname were undoubtedly a mistake. In our institution, we accept that mistakes were made on the part of some of our members that night that do not represent the values ​​and principles of the Club. The Board of Directors of the Olimpia Deportivo Club will take disciplinary measures within our institution, since the consequences of these errors have caused our beloved club enormous damage to the image of a team that has always carried the name of Honduran football high.

‘We deeply regret what happened and rest assured that many will learn a lesson from these mistakes and our institution will come out stronger to seek more sporting achievements. We are sure that the tournament organisers will also learn the lesson and that in the future they will be more vigilant regarding the registration of the players who will participate, avoiding people who do not present the ideal to be part of an event of professionals in this sport, and players who have a criminal record. 

‘For these types of tournaments to improve their image, we must all seek to improve. Finally, we want to inform that the money that the members of the club received that night will be donated during this week to the Honduran Foundation for Children with Cancer.’ CONCACAF said it is continuing to investigate the individuals involved, and any further findings will be referred to its Disciplinary Committee.