Chaos and accusations of sabotage prevent Bolivia's national team from leaving Venezuela

After losing 2-0 to Venezuela in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Bolivian national team has faced another obstacle, this time off the field of play.

Venezuelan authorities have prevented the Bolivian team's flight from leaving Maturin airport, without giving any official or clear explanation for the blockage.

The Bolivian delegation, which had completed the procedures and documentation for its return to its country, was forced to return to the hotel in the middle of the night after hours of waiting. According to team officials, the only excuse given by the authorities was a vague problem with “air traffic,” even though there were only two planes at the airport at the time.

The team's technical director, Óscar Villegas, expressed surprise at the situation, saying he had previously requested that the Bolivian government coordinate with Nicolas Maduro's authorities to avoid precisely these problems. Meanwhile, Harold Howard, responsible for the delegation's security, spoke of a deliberate act, describing it as "sabotage."

The event has caused strong reactions in Bolivia, both in sports and political circles, where there have been calls for immediate intervention and for the search for answers from the Venezuelan side.

In addition to the diplomatic impact, the incident has also disrupted the agenda of the Bolivian team, which was expected to arrive in La Paz in the early hours of the morning to prepare for the next challenge against Chile, which will take place on Tuesday in El Alto.

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