Struggling Real Santander have moved from the mainland to a Caribbean island – and their bold decision might just pay off
Of all the indignities that can be inflicted on a football club, relocation may be the most controversial of all. Uprooting a club from its historical home and fanbase is seen as a cardinal sin of the sport. Even moving a few miles, from one part of a city to another, can provoke a fierce backlash. So what happens when a team moves 1,000km away?
Real Santander, a struggling second-tier Colombian side, found themselves facing this prospect at the end of the 2018 season. Based in Floridablanca in the country’s northeast, their existence was put in jeopardy when the local government, mired in financial crisis, slashed the team’s funding. Faced with little choice but to go elsewhere, they pursued an intriguing offer from the Caribbean island of San Andrés.
Written by Niall McVeigh
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/04/real-san-andres-the-colombian-club-who-relocated-1000km-from-home under the title “Real San Andrés: the Colombian club that relocated 1,000km from home”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
