Santiago City will begin the 2026 Second Division postseason with three fewer points. The Disciplinary Tribunal of the National Professional Football Association (ANFP) issued the ruling after upholding a complaint from the Financial Control Unit concerning footballer Fabián Núñez’s termination settlement.
BioBioChile obtained the ruling, dated October 6. According to the decision, the club failed to make the document available to the player within the statutory deadline and breached the labor obligations required by the regulations.
The complaint concerned a possible breach of Articles 70.1 and 70.2 of the ANFP Regulations. These provisions require clubs to submit their players’ termination settlements and the corresponding proof of payment each month.
In its defense, Santiago City maintained that its employment relationship with Núñez ended by mutual agreement on July 24, 2026. According to the club, the footballer asked to be released and traveled to the United States. The club’s management said it sent the document to a notary’s office within the deadline and paid the amounts in full.
The club also argued that the document remained unsigned because the player was outside the country, a situation it considered beyond its responsibility.
The tribunal rejected that argument. It clarified that the central issue was whether the employer had made the termination settlement available to the employee on time, and whether the player was obliged to sign it was not the issue.
The ruling established that the deadline of ten working days expired on August 5, 2026. By that date, the termination settlement had not been made available to Núñez, nor had its payment been verified. The tribunal therefore concluded that Santiago City had breached Article 177 of the Labor Code, to which Chilean football regulations refer, and stressed that labor rights cannot be waived. The ruling also noted an inconsistency in the supporting information submitted by the club.
The sanction was approved unanimously and applies to a first breach of this kind. The club had received no penalties for similar incidents this season. The deduction will apply in the postseason because the regional group stage ended on August 1, before the case was decided. The sources do not specify the team’s position in the standings after the deduction.
Legal proceedings remain open. The ANFP filed a second complaint against the club over the alleged submission of false documentation in its defense in a termination settlement case reported by the Financial Control Unit. According to BioBioChile, the tribunal will review that case next Tuesday.