José Calderón broke his silence this weekend after the strong accusations of his teammate Gustavo Herrera, who publicly accused him of alleged match-fixing after the own goal that sealed Sporting San Miguelito’s 2-3 defeat against Alianza FC in the 90th minute of the match played on Saturday, May 2. The Panamanian goalkeeper issued a statement in which he apologized, assumed responsibility and categorically rejected the accusations of fixing that have put him at the center of controversy in Central American football.
In his statement, Calderón was direct when referring to what happened. “I apologize and take responsibility for what happened in the match”said the goalkeeper, acknowledging that his mistake was serious and that he understands the frustration of his teammates and the San Miguelito fans. However, the goalkeeper was emphatic in rejecting the accusations of fixing. ““I categorically reject the allegations of match-fixing, what happened was a technical error and not an intentional action,” Calderón expressed in his public statement.
The goalkeeper was also open to the Panamanian soccer authorities investigating what happened. “I am willing to collaborate with any investigation that is initiated to clarify the facts”said Calderón, who thus seeks to clear up the doubts generated by his performance in the match against Alianza FC. The controversy arose when the score was tied 2-2 in the 90th minute and a cross from the left wing ended with the ball in the back of his own goal in an action that immediately sparked suspicion among his own teammates.
The reaction of the San Miguelito coach, the historic Julio César Dely Valdés, also set off alarms. The former Panama coach pointed out that the game was strange from the first minute and that he felt embarrassed to be leading a team that seemed not to want to win. “Many things happened in the first half for which I wanted to leave the field. “I felt ashamed to be there directing a team that sometimes seemed like it didn’t want to win today.”stated Dely Valdés, leaving the door open to the fact that what happened was not an isolated event within the party.
The defeat against Alianza FC also meant the elimination of Sporting San Miguelito from the playoffs of the Clausura Tournament of the Panamanian League, which adds even more weight to the controversy. The combination of the own goal in the 90th minute, the public accusations of his teammate Herrera, the coach’s statements and Calderón’s own statement have turned this case into one of the most notorious scandals in Central American football in recent times, with the Panamanian press closely following each development.
With the goalkeeper’s statement, the ball is now in the hands of the Panamanian soccer authorities to determine whether or not a formal investigation into what happened should proceed.
Jose “Chepo” Calderón, two-time champion goalkeeper with Xelajú MC, now defends the goal of Sporting San Miguelito in Panama, is strongly criticized and involved in a great controversy for this play in the last minute that gave the classification to the opposing team. pic.twitter.com/gQrMf8CTYl
— Fans of Club Xelajú MC (@FanClubXelajuMC) May 3, 2026