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{{short description|Colombian professional league for association football clubs}}
{{short description|Colombian professional league for association football clubs}}
{{Unreferenced|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox football league
{{Infobox football league
|name = Categoría Primera C
|name = Categoría Primera C
Line 7: Line 6:
|country = [[Colombia]]
|country = [[Colombia]]
|motto =
|motto =
|confed = [[CONMEBOL]]
|confed =
|organiser = [[División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano|DIFUTBOL]]
|founded = 1991 <small>(As Amateur category)</small><br/>2021 <small>(Return in July, with possible promotion for the champion of this category to Primera B 2022)</small>
|founded = 1991 <small>(As Amateur tier)</small><br/>2021 <small>(Refounded)</small>
|teams = [[To be announced|TBD]]
|teams = Variable (230 in 2022)
|promotion = [[Categoría Primera B]]
|relegation = [[Categoría Primera D]]
|promotion = [[Categoría Primera B]]<br/>(Planned)
|relegation =
|levels = 3
|levels = 3
|domest_cup =
|domest_cup = [[Copa Colombia]]<br/>(Planned)
|confed_cup =
|confed_cup =
|champions = [[To be announced|TBD]]
|champions = Total Soccer (2nd title)
|top_goalscorer = [[To be announced|TBD]]
|top_goalscorer =
|most_caps = [[To be announced|TBD]]
|most_caps =
|season =
|season = 2023
|most successful club = [[To be announced|TBD]]
|most successful club = [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios B]]<br/>[[América de Cali|América de Cali B]]<br/>Total Soccer<br/>(2 titles each)
|tv =
|tv =
|website = [http://difutbol.org// DIFUTBOL]
|website = {{URL|http://difutbol.org/}}
|current = [[To be announced|Primera C 2021 (Colombia)]]
|current = [[2024 Categoría Primera C season|2024]]
}}
}}

The '''Categoría Primera C''' is the third division tournament of [[Football in Colombia]]. From 1991 to 2010 it was controlled and organized by the [[División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano|(Difutbol)]], an entity dependent on the [[Colombian Football Federation]]; Currently this category is disappeared, but Difutbol seeks to reorganize it again, with a format in which the champion of this category is granted promotion to [[Categoría Primera B|Primera B]] and so on for two years, then there would be two descents from B to C and vice versa. It seeks to approve the resurgence of the Primera C beginning in 2021; however, promotion and relegation from Primera B must be approved by the professional branch ([[División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano|Dimayor]]). The [[Categoría Primera A|Primera A]] is the only one in the top-20 of the [[IFFHS]] that does not have a third division.
The '''Categoría Primera C''' is the third division tournament of [[football in Colombia]], which is amateur in nature. It is organized by the [[División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano]] (Difútbol), an entity dependent on the [[Colombian Football Federation]] (FCF). Despite being called Primera C and being within the federative football system, it does not grant promotion to the professional [[Categoría Primera B|Primera B]], which is organized by the [[División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano]] (Dimayor). According to a study made in 2020, Colombia was the only country in the top 20 of the [[FIFA World Rankings|FIFA ranking]] lacking a third tier football league linked to its [[Colombian football league system|league system]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/la-primera-c-del-futbol-colombiano-una-tarea-pendiente-desde-hace-19-anos/ |title=La Primera C del fútbol colombiano, una tarea pendiente desde hace 19 años |trans-title=The Primera C of Colombian football, a pending task for 19 years |publisher=El Espectador |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=26 September 2020}}</ref> The current champion is Total Soccer from [[Medellín]], who won the 2022 and 2023 tournaments.


== History ==
== History ==
⚫
=== Early years ===
{{Cleanup red links|section|date=September 2021}}
⚫
In 1990, Dimayor created the [[Categoría Primera B|second division]] in Colombia, and at the same time the need for the new tournament to have relegation to a lower tier arose, making way for the creation of a third division league. In 1991 the Primera C began with the participation of amateur teams and affiliate or reserve squads of professional teams, proposed by Dimayor.


In all editions, the teams were divided into regional groups, each region had its semifinal and final and at the end of each zone had a representative for a final stage, which was played in a single venue.<ref>{{cite web |title=CON 66 EQUIPOS SE INICIA PRIMERA C |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-273321 |publisher=El Tiempo |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=11 March 1995}}</ref> The first champion of the competition was the reserves of [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios]], after finishing first in the final stage, however for the first edition there was no promotion. In the event that a Dimayor affiliate club won the title, the winning team had to sell or transfer its berth in the second tier. This situation occurred in 1993, when the [[Unión Magdalena]] reserve team won the competition and was able to claim promotion by switching its license and creating the [[Deportivo Samarios]] club that played in the second tier in 1994. In 1996 and 1998, the [[América de Cali]] youth squads won the competition and in both cases América yielded its spot in Primera B, with [[Atlético Buenaventura]] being the team promoted to the second tier for 1997 and [[Expreso Palmira F.C.|Palmira F.C.]] renting the berth to take part in Primera B in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=ADECUACIÓN EN LA PRIMERA B |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-703676 |publisher=El Tiempo |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=2 July 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=DOS FICHAS: |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-867234 |publisher=El Tiempo |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=12 January 1999}}</ref>
⚫
=== Background ===
⚫
For the year [[1990]] the [[División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano|Dimayor]] created the [[Categoría Primera B|second division]] in [[Colombia]], and at the same time the need arose for the new tournament, was relegated to a lower category, thus being born a third division. For the year 1991 the [[Categoría Primera C|Primera C]] began with the participation of amateur teams and affiliates of professional teams, something proposed by the [[División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano|Dimayor]].


The Primera C was the starting place for teams that are currently competing in [[Categoría Primera A|Primera A]] and [[Categoría Primera B|Primera B]] such as [[Deportivo Pasto]] and [[La Equidad]]. The competition was played uninterruptedly and with high amounts of clubs ranging from 66 to 185. It is commonly stated that [[Boyacá Chicó F.C.|Chicó Fútbol Club]] was promoted to Primera B after winning the 2000 Primera C tournament, but actually [[Cortuluá]], who owned a Primera B license they had previously bought from América de Cali, granted them their spot to compete in Primera B, replacing [[Unión Meta]] who had played in the 2000 Primera B with that license. The champion of the 2000 edition was actually [[El Cerrito F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Especiales LMDF: La Feria de las fichas de los clubes del fútbol colombiano (o "¿Sabe usted dónde esta la ficha de su equipo en estos momentos?") |url=http://www.lamonsergadelfutbol.com/?p=5165 |publisher=La Monserga del Fútbol |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=12 May 2016}}</ref>
In all editions, the teams were divided into regional groups, each region had its semifinal and final and at the end of each zone had a representative for the final quadrangular, which was played in a single venue. The first champion of this contest was [[Millionarios Minor Divisions|Millionarios]], after finishing first in the final home run, however for the first edition there was no promotion. In the event that an affiliate team obtained the title, the winning team sold or transferred the token in the silver category. This situation occurred in [[1993]], when the [[Unión Magdalena]] subsidiary, which was able to rise by changing tab and forming the [[Deportivo Samarios]] that played in the second division of the year [[Primera B 1994 (Colombia)|1994]]. Also in the year [[1996]] where the champions were the minor divisions of America, and the card was transferred to [[Atlético Buenaventura]] which was the team that was promoted for the year [[Primera B 1997 (Colombia)|1997 ]]. In the year [[1998]] America was champion again and possibly rented its file to the team [[Expreso Palmira Fútbol Club|Palmira FC]] that rose for the season of [[Primera B 1999 (Colombia) | 1999]].


The problems started in 1999, when representatives of the professional tiers started expressing their opposition to a professional team (affiliated to Dimayor) becoming an amateur team upon relegation to Primera C, while power struggles between Dimayor and Difútbol also began to rise.<ref>{{cite web |title=Álvaro González: 50 años de entrega y controversia en la dirigencia deportiva |url=http://www.antena2.com.co/noticias/alvaro-gonzalez-alzate-50-anos-de-entrega-la-75666 |publisher=Antena 2 |access-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822093156/http://www.antena2.com.co/noticias/alvaro-gonzalez-alzate-50-anos-de-entrega-la-75666 |archive-date=22 August 2017 |language=es |date=29 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2001, with the tournament already weakened, the reserves of [[Independiente Medellín]] were the champions, and the solution regarding promotion was to hold a Primera B tournament mixed with a tournament for reserve teams of Primera A clubs for 2002. Starting from the following year, promotion and relegation between the second and third division ended.
This division was promoted by teams that today are in [[Categoría Primera A|Primera A]] and [[Categoría Primera B|Primera B]] such as [[Deportivo Pasto]] and [[La Equidad]]. The category was played uninterruptedly and with very high numbers of clubs (from 66 to 185). Of [[Boyacá Chicó F.C.|Chicó Fútbol Club]] it is commonly said that he rose to be champion of the C in the year [[2000]], but in reality, [[Cortuluá]] owner of a token in B that he bought from América, gave him a token or a place in [[Primera B 2001 (Colombia)|Primera B 2001]] replacing Unión Meta. The champion of the 2000 edition was actually El Cerrito FC.


⚫
Nevertheless, Difútbol continued to organize the tournament until 2010, but without awarding promotion to the champion. There were several attempts to resume the third division but no agreement was reached with Dimayor. In 2014, after many unsuccessful attempts Difútbol created a under-23 tournament with 10 teams trying to emulate the third tier, but no agreement was reached with the professional branch of Colombian football.
The problems started in the year [[1999]], where some leaders of the professional division were against a professional team (affiliated to DIMAYOR) becoming an amateur team upon relegation. In [[2001]], with the tournament already weakened, the tournament champion was the subsidiary of [[Independiente Medellín|Medellín]], and the solution regarding promotion was to hold a [[Categoría Primera B|Primera B]] mixed with the reserves of the teams of [[Categoría Primera A|Primera A]], this for the year [[Primera B 2002 (Colombia)|2002]]. From the next one, the promotion between second and third division ended.


⚫
=== Possible return for 2020 and reversal ===
⚫
Nevertheless, the [[División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano|(Difutbol)]] continued to organize the tournament until [[2010]], but without a sports award for the champion. There have been many attempts to revive the third division to the [[Colombian Soccer Major Division | Colombian Professional Soccer]] but no agreement has ever been reached with the [[División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano|Dimayor]]. In [[2014]], after many unsuccessful attempts the [[División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano|(Difutbol)]] created the [[U-23 Category (Colombia) | U-23 Tournament]] with 10 teams, trying to emulate the First C, but in the same way an agreement was not reached with the professional branch.
After an extraordinary assembly of clubs of Dimayor held on 12 December 2017, the former president of the professional branch of Colombian football, Jorge Perdomo, stated that the Primera C could be resumed within two or three years, based on clubs from the U-20 Championship of the FCF and youth squads of the 36 clubs affiliated to Dimayor, with an investment of roughly four billion [[Colombian peso|pesos]].<ref>{{cite web |title=En dos años, el fútbol colombiano podría tener Primera C |url=http://codigofutbol.co/en-dos-anos-el-futbol-colombiano-podria-tener-primera-c/ |publisher=Código Fútbol Comunicaciones |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=14 December 2021}}</ref>


⚫
For the 2019 SuperCopa Juvenil FCF a promotion and relegation system would be established between the U-20 A and B categories, with the participation of 60 clubs in category A and relegation of the bottom 10 teams to category B and promotion of the top 10 teams of this category, in order to establish in the future the professional Primera C competition in 2020 with promotion to Categoría Primera B.
⚫
=== Possible return in 2020 and going back ===
After the extraordinary assembly of clubs of the [[Colombian Soccer Major Division]] on December 12, 2017, the former president of the professional branch of [[Soccer in Colombia | Colombian soccer]], [[Jorge Perdomo Polanía | Jorge Perdomo]], assured that in two or three years the '' 'Primera C' '' could return, based on teams from the [[Youth Championship (Colombia) | U-20 Championship]] of the [[Colombian Soccer Federation ]], and [[Subsidiary (sport) | affiliated clubs]] of the 36 affiliated to Dimayor, with an investment of close to 4,000 million [[Colombian peso | pesos]].
;Background
⚫
In the [[Annex: Supercopa_Juvenil_FCF_2019 | SuperCopa Juvenil FCF of 2019]] the promotion and relegation system was established between the U-20 A and B categories, the participation of 60 clubs in Category A with relegation from the last 10 to Category B and in the same way promotion of the first 10 of this category, in order to establish in the future the First C Professional in [[2020]] with promotion to [[First Category B (Colombia) | First B]] of the [[Major Division of Colombian Soccer | Colombian Professional Soccer]].
;Reverse
All of the above was approved by the former president of the [[División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano|Dimayor]] [[Jorge Perdomo Polanía | Jorge Perdomo]], when the new president [[Jorge Enrique Vélez]] assumed the presidency, he ruled that There was no option to reactivate the third division due to the high costs it would present.
=== ACCFA Proposal ===


All of the above was approved by Perdomo, but when Jorge Enrique Vélez was appointed as president of Dimayor in 2019, he ruled out the option to reactivate the third division due to the high costs it would present.<ref>{{cite web |title="Sostener la A y la B tiene un costo muy alto": Vélez |url=http://codigofutbol.co/sostener-la-a-y-la-b-tiene-un-costo-muy-alto-velez/ |publisher=Código Fútbol Comunicaciones |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=20 April 2019}}</ref>
Former soccer player and lawyer Andrés Felipe Guapacha Orozco, who was a member of Deportivo Pereira, Deportes Quindío, Envigado, Pasto and La Paz (Bolivia), promoted the creation of the "Association of Colombian Amateur Soccer Clubs" (ACCFA) in 2020, in order to promote Difutbol and DIMAYOR before the Colombian Soccer Federation, the First C (or also called third division) as a semi-professional category and establish in the future the promotion and descent between C to B, with it a fourth division or "First D" and also a fifth division, in favor of defending the participation rights of amateur clubs in Colombia.
The proposal includes in 2024, having a third division with 84 amateur teams and 36 subsidiaries of professional teams; the fourth division, sub-22, would have 270 teams fighting for 10 promotions to First C. The fifth division, sub-21, would be open to all teams that can pay the registration that would play for 40 promotions.


=== Other proposals ===
=== Other proposals for reactivation ===
Former footballer and lawyer [[Andrés Felipe Guapacha]], who played for [[Deportivo Pereira]], [[Deportes Quindío]], [[Envigado F.C.|Envigado]], [[Deportivo Pasto]] and [[La Paz F.C.]] (Bolivia), led the creation of the Association of Colombian Amateur Football Clubs (ACCFA) in 2020 in order to promote the creation of a third tier competition as a semi-professional category and establish in the future promotion and relegation between Primera B and Primera C, as well as the creation of a fourth tier or "Primera D" and also a fifth tier, aiming at defending the participation rights of amateur clubs in Colombia.<ref>{{cite web |title=¿DISIDENCIA EN LA DIFÚTBOL? CREAN NUEVO GREMIO DE FÚTBOL AFICIONADO EN COLOMBIA |url=https://www.antena2.com/futbol/disidencia-en-la-difutbol-crean-nuevo-gremio-de-futbol-aficionado-en-colombia |publisher=Antena 2 |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=24 July 2020}}</ref> According to this proposal, by 2024 there would be a third division league with 84 amateur teams and 36 subsidiaries of professional teams; the fourth division, a under-22 league, would have 270 teams playing for 10 promotion spots to Primera C. The fifth division, which would be under-21, would be open to every team able to pay the registration fee which would play for 40 promotion berths.<ref>{{cite web |title=PROYECTO DE ASCENSOS Y DESCENSOS PARA EL FÚTBOL COLOMBIANO |url=https://semillerosdeportivos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Propuesta-de-Transformacio%CC%81n-desde-el-futbol-aficionado-versio%CC%81n-14-Oct-2020-1.pdf |website=Semillerosdeportivos.com |publisher=ACCFA |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref>


On the other hand, Jesús Alberto Ramírez, a highly experienced sports leader, submitted to the Colombian Football Federation a revolutionary proposal, but with a very high price, of which it is planned to have five divisions in the national income. A third division is proposed with 40 teams whose chips have a value of 1500 million pesos, a fourth category with 80 new clubs with a value of 750 million, and in the last seat 120 amateur teams that should pay 350 million pesos.
On the other hand, Jesús Alberto Ramírez, a highly experienced sports administrator, submitted to the Colombian Football Federation a proposal named ''Fútbol Naranja'', planning to set up five tiers in the [[Colombian football league system|league pyramid]] and going up from 36 professional football clubs to 240, thus allowing the number of professional players to increase from 900 to over 12,000, all of this considering that out of Colombia's 1,125 municipalities, only 25 of them are currently represented by professional clubs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Conozca el proyecto que revolucionaría el fútbol en Colombia |url=https://www.elcolombiano.com/deportes/futbol-colombiano/futbol-naranja-la-puerta-a-tener-cinco-divisiones-en-colombia-KC14343867 |publisher=El Colombiano |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=29 December 2020}}</ref>


Another proposal, led by Daniel Pabón and Hernando Arias, includes the creation of 3 additional divisions in Colombia. The First C would function as a semi-professional category and would be composed of 24 teams, a First D with 80 teams and a First E organized by the 34 departmental leagues whose number of participants would range between 272 and 680 depending on the teams registered in each department. Among the requirements would be to have a stadium of 4000 spectators for the third level, 2000 for the fourth and 1000 for the fifth. Additionally, it is proposed to deliver 10 places to 10 municipalities that are important soccer players such as Quibdó, Tumaco, Sincelejo, Yopal, Popayán, Riohacha, Buenaventura, Apartadó, Mocoa and Florencia.
Another proposal, led by Daniel Pabón and Hernando Arias and presented to the [[Chamber of Representatives of Colombia]], included the creation of three additional tiers in the country. The Primera C would function as a semi-professional category and would be made up by 24 teams, a Primera D with 80 teams and a "Primera E" organized by the 34 departmental leagues whose number of participants would range between 272 and 680 depending on the teams registered in each department. The requirements would include having a stadium seating 4,000 spectators for the third tier, 2,000 for the fourth one and 1,000 for the fifth one. Furthermore, it was proposed to award 10 spots to 10 municipalities "of footballing importance" without professional teams such as [[Quibdó]], [[Tumaco]], [[Sincelejo]], [[Yopal]], [[Popayán]], [[Riohacha]], [[Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca|Buenaventura]], [[Apartadó]], [[Mocoa]] and [[Florencia, Caquetá|Florencia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA FÚTBOL 3ra DIVISIÓN CON ASCENSOS 23/11/2020 Comisión VII. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SYTR-lqAVo&t=5362s |website=Youtube.com |publisher=Comisión Séptima - Cámara de Representantes |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref>


=== Return of category C in 2021 ===
=== Return in 2021 ===
In 2021, Difútbol confirmed the return of the Categoría Primera C under the name ''Torneo Interclubes Primera C''. On 12 April 2021, the organization opened the signup process for the tournament which would begin on 15 May, but its beginning was postponed until July. It was intended that the winner of the Primera C competition took part in Primera B in 2022 as a guest team, with two promotions and two relegations to come into force by 2023. However, the DIMAYOR member clubs must first approve promotion and relegation between Primera B and Primera C.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ya es oficial: vuelve la primera C en Colombia |url=https://primertiempo.co/futbol/ya-es-oficial-vuelve-la-primera-c-en-colombia |publisher=Primer Tiempo |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=12 April 2021}}</ref> The first edition of the refounded tournament was won by Filipenses from Turbo, [[Antioquia Department]], who defeated Unión Pacífico Sur from Tumaco in the final.<ref name="2021 final">{{cite web |title=Tumaco, subcampeón en torneo de la primera C |url=https://diariodelsur.com.co/deportes/tumaco-subcampeon-en-torneo-de-la-primera-c |trans-title=Tumaco, runner-up in Primera C tournament |publisher=Diario del Sur |access-date=20 December 2021 |language=es |date=20 December 2021}}</ref>
The Colombian Soccer Amateur Division (DIFUTBOL) confirmed the return of the First Category C. On April 12, 2021, the organization opened the national registrations for the tournament that would begin on May 15 of the same year. The idea is that the champion of the C participates during 2022 in the B. From 2023, two promotions and two descents would come into force, as appropriate. However, the DIMAYOR member teams must approve the promotion to First B.


==Champions by seasons==
==Champions by seasons==
Line 66: Line 62:
!width=170px|Runner-up
!width=170px|Runner-up
|-
|-
!colspan=3 align=center| Categoría Primera C (Dimayor/Difútbol)
⚫
| 1991 || [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios B]] (1) || Deportivo Dinastía
|-
⚫
| 1991 || [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios B]] (1) || Deportes Dinastía
|-
|-
| 1993 || [[Unión Magdalena|Unión Magdalena B]] (1) || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]]
| 1993 || [[Unión Magdalena|Unión Magdalena B]] (1) || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]]
Line 72: Line 70:
| 1994 || Ferroclub (1) || [[Millonarios FC|Millonarios B]]
| 1994 || Ferroclub (1) || [[Millonarios FC|Millonarios B]]
|-
|-
| 1995 || Cooperamos Tolima (1) || [[La Equidad|La Equidad B]]
| 1995–96 || Cooperamos Tolima (1) || [[La Equidad]]
|-
|-
| 1996 || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]] (1) || Milán FC
| 1996 || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]] (1) || Milán FC
Line 78: Line 76:
| 1997 || Escuela Carlos Sarmiento Lora (1) || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]]
| 1997 || Escuela Carlos Sarmiento Lora (1) || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]]
|-
|-
| 1998 || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]] (2) || Deportivo Junior
| 1998 || [[América de Cali|América de Cali B]] (2) || [[Atlético Junior|Junior B]]
|-
|-
| 1999 || [[Deportivo Pereira|Deportivo Pereira B]] (1) || [[La Equidad|La Equidad B]]
| 1999 || [[Deportivo Pereira|Deportivo Pereira B]] (1) || [[La Equidad]]
|-
|-
| 2000 || [[Boyacá Chicó F.C.|Boyacá Chicó B]] (1) || Real San Jorge
| 2000 || El Cerrito F.C. (1) || [[Atlético Bucaramanga|Atlético Bucaramanga B]]
|-
|-
| 2001 || [[Independiente Medellín|Independiente Medellín B]] (1) || Real San Jorge
| 2001 || [[Independiente Medellín|Independiente Medellín B]] (1) || [[Deportivo Pereira|Deportivo Pereira B]]
|-
!colspan=3 align=center| Torneo Interclubes Primera C (Difútbol)
|-
| 2002 || [[Expreso Rojo]] (1) || [[Once Caldas|Once Caldas B]]
|-
|-
| 2003 || [[Once Caldas|Once Caldas B]] (1) || [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios B]]
| 2003 || [[Once Caldas|Once Caldas B]] (1) || [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios B]]
|-
|-
| 2004 || [[Deportivo Cali|Deportivo Cali B]] (1) || [[Academia F.C.|Compensar FC]]
| 2004 || [[Deportivo Cali|Deportivo Cali B]] (1) || Escuela Carlos Sarmiento Lora
|-
|-
| 2006 || Paz y Futuro (1) || [[Independiente Santa Fe|Santa Fe B]]
| 2006 || Paz y Futuro (1) || [[Deportivo Cali|Deportivo Cali B]]
|-
|-
| 2007 || Boca Juniors de Soledad (1) || Alianza Llanos
| 2007 || Boca Juniors de Soledad (1) || Alianza Llanos
|-
|-
| 2008 || [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios B]] (2) || Palmarés FC
| 2008 || [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios B]] (2) || Palmares FC
|-
|-
| 2009 || Palmarés FC (1) || Boca Juniors de Sincelejo
| 2009 || Palmarés FC (1) || Boca Juniors de Sincelejo
|-
|-
| 2010 || EHC Gobernación - Electrohuila (1) || [[Uniautónoma FC|Uniautónoma]]
| 2010 || EHC Gobernación - Electrohuila (1) || [[Uniautónoma F.C.|Uniautónoma]]
|-
|-
!colspan=3 align=center| Torneo Nacional de Interclubes Primera C (Difútbol)
| 2021 || TBD || TBD
|-
| 2021<ref name="2021 final"/> || Filipenses (1) || Unión Pacífico Sur
|-
| 2022<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcf.com.co/index.php/2022/12/12/total-soccer-se-corono-campeon-del-torneo-nacional-interclubes-primera-c-2022/ |title=Total Soccer se coronó campeón del Torneo Nacional Interclubes – Primera C 2022 |trans-title=Total Soccer were crowned champions of the 2022 Torneo Nacional Interclubes – Primera C |publisher=[[Colombian Football Federation]] |language=es |date=12 December 2022 |access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> || Total Soccer (1) || Equipo Azul
|-
| 2023<ref>{{cite web |url=https://capsulas.com.co/total-soccer-de-medellin-campeon-de-la-primera-c-nacional/ |title=Total Soccer, de Medellín, campeón de la Primera C Nacional |trans-title=Total Soccer, from Medellín, Primera C Nacional champion |publisher=Cápsulas de Carreño |language=es |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref> || Total Soccer (2) || Ciamen
|}
|}

Source for winners until 2010: Diario La Patria<ref>{{cite web |title=La Primera C regresa al fútbol colombiano y busca el ascenso para el campeón |url=https://www.lapatria.com/deportes/la-primera-c-regresa-al-futbol-colombiano-y-busca-el-ascenso-para-el-campeon-473462 |publisher=La Patria |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=es |date=13 April 2021}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Football leagues in Colombia|3]]
[[Category:Football leagues in Colombia|3]]
[[Category:Third level football leagues of South America|Col]]
[[Category:Third level football leagues of South America|Col]]


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{{SouthAm-footy-competition-stub}}

Latest revision as of 16:03, 8 July 2024

Categoría Primera C
Organising bodyDIFUTBOL
Founded1991 (As Amateur tier)
2021 (Refounded)
CountryColombia
Number of teamsVariable (230 in 2022)
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toCategoría Primera B
(Planned)
Domestic cup(s)Copa Colombia
(Planned)
Current championsTotal Soccer (2nd title)
(2023)
Most championshipsMillonarios B
América de Cali B
Total Soccer
(2 titles each)
Websitedifutbol.org
Current: 2024

The Categoría Primera C is the third division tournament of football in Colombia, which is amateur in nature. It is organized by the División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano (Difútbol), an entity dependent on the Colombian Football Federation (FCF). Despite being called Primera C and being within the federative football system, it does not grant promotion to the professional Primera B, which is organized by the División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano (Dimayor). According to a study made in 2020, Colombia was the only country in the top 20 of the FIFA ranking lacking a third tier football league linked to its league system.[1] The current champion is Total Soccer from Medellín, who won the 2022 and 2023 tournaments.

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

In 1990, Dimayor created the second division in Colombia, and at the same time the need for the new tournament to have relegation to a lower tier arose, making way for the creation of a third division league. In 1991 the Primera C began with the participation of amateur teams and affiliate or reserve squads of professional teams, proposed by Dimayor.

In all editions, the teams were divided into regional groups, each region had its semifinal and final and at the end of each zone had a representative for a final stage, which was played in a single venue.[2] The first champion of the competition was the reserves of Millonarios, after finishing first in the final stage, however for the first edition there was no promotion. In the event that a Dimayor affiliate club won the title, the winning team had to sell or transfer its berth in the second tier. This situation occurred in 1993, when the Unión Magdalena reserve team won the competition and was able to claim promotion by switching its license and creating the Deportivo Samarios club that played in the second tier in 1994. In 1996 and 1998, the América de Cali youth squads won the competition and in both cases América yielded its spot in Primera B, with Atlético Buenaventura being the team promoted to the second tier for 1997 and Palmira F.C. renting the berth to take part in Primera B in 1999.[3][4]

The Primera C was the starting place for teams that are currently competing in Primera A and Primera B such as Deportivo Pasto and La Equidad. The competition was played uninterruptedly and with high amounts of clubs ranging from 66 to 185. It is commonly stated that Chicó Fútbol Club was promoted to Primera B after winning the 2000 Primera C tournament, but actually Cortuluá, who owned a Primera B license they had previously bought from América de Cali, granted them their spot to compete in Primera B, replacing Unión Meta who had played in the 2000 Primera B with that license. The champion of the 2000 edition was actually El Cerrito F.C.[5]

The problems started in 1999, when representatives of the professional tiers started expressing their opposition to a professional team (affiliated to Dimayor) becoming an amateur team upon relegation to Primera C, while power struggles between Dimayor and Difútbol also began to rise.[6] In 2001, with the tournament already weakened, the reserves of Independiente Medellín were the champions, and the solution regarding promotion was to hold a Primera B tournament mixed with a tournament for reserve teams of Primera A clubs for 2002. Starting from the following year, promotion and relegation between the second and third division ended.

Nevertheless, Difútbol continued to organize the tournament until 2010, but without awarding promotion to the champion. There were several attempts to resume the third division but no agreement was reached with Dimayor. In 2014, after many unsuccessful attempts Difútbol created a under-23 tournament with 10 teams trying to emulate the third tier, but no agreement was reached with the professional branch of Colombian football.

Possible return for 2020 and reversal

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After an extraordinary assembly of clubs of Dimayor held on 12 December 2017, the former president of the professional branch of Colombian football, Jorge Perdomo, stated that the Primera C could be resumed within two or three years, based on clubs from the U-20 Championship of the FCF and youth squads of the 36 clubs affiliated to Dimayor, with an investment of roughly four billion pesos.[7]

For the 2019 SuperCopa Juvenil FCF a promotion and relegation system would be established between the U-20 A and B categories, with the participation of 60 clubs in category A and relegation of the bottom 10 teams to category B and promotion of the top 10 teams of this category, in order to establish in the future the professional Primera C competition in 2020 with promotion to Categoría Primera B.

All of the above was approved by Perdomo, but when Jorge Enrique Vélez was appointed as president of Dimayor in 2019, he ruled out the option to reactivate the third division due to the high costs it would present.[8]

Other proposals for reactivation

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Former footballer and lawyer Andrés Felipe Guapacha, who played for Deportivo Pereira, Deportes Quindío, Envigado, Deportivo Pasto and La Paz F.C. (Bolivia), led the creation of the Association of Colombian Amateur Football Clubs (ACCFA) in 2020 in order to promote the creation of a third tier competition as a semi-professional category and establish in the future promotion and relegation between Primera B and Primera C, as well as the creation of a fourth tier or "Primera D" and also a fifth tier, aiming at defending the participation rights of amateur clubs in Colombia.[9] According to this proposal, by 2024 there would be a third division league with 84 amateur teams and 36 subsidiaries of professional teams; the fourth division, a under-22 league, would have 270 teams playing for 10 promotion spots to Primera C. The fifth division, which would be under-21, would be open to every team able to pay the registration fee which would play for 40 promotion berths.[10]

On the other hand, Jesús Alberto Ramírez, a highly experienced sports administrator, submitted to the Colombian Football Federation a proposal named Fútbol Naranja, planning to set up five tiers in the league pyramid and going up from 36 professional football clubs to 240, thus allowing the number of professional players to increase from 900 to over 12,000, all of this considering that out of Colombia's 1,125 municipalities, only 25 of them are currently represented by professional clubs.[11]

Another proposal, led by Daniel Pabón and Hernando Arias and presented to the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia, included the creation of three additional tiers in the country. The Primera C would function as a semi-professional category and would be made up by 24 teams, a Primera D with 80 teams and a "Primera E" organized by the 34 departmental leagues whose number of participants would range between 272 and 680 depending on the teams registered in each department. The requirements would include having a stadium seating 4,000 spectators for the third tier, 2,000 for the fourth one and 1,000 for the fifth one. Furthermore, it was proposed to award 10 spots to 10 municipalities "of footballing importance" without professional teams such as Quibdó, Tumaco, Sincelejo, Yopal, Popayán, Riohacha, Buenaventura, Apartadó, Mocoa and Florencia.[12]

Return in 2021

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In 2021, Difútbol confirmed the return of the Categoría Primera C under the name Torneo Interclubes Primera C. On 12 April 2021, the organization opened the signup process for the tournament which would begin on 15 May, but its beginning was postponed until July. It was intended that the winner of the Primera C competition took part in Primera B in 2022 as a guest team, with two promotions and two relegations to come into force by 2023. However, the DIMAYOR member clubs must first approve promotion and relegation between Primera B and Primera C.[13] The first edition of the refounded tournament was won by Filipenses from Turbo, Antioquia Department, who defeated Unión Pacífico Sur from Tumaco in the final.[14]

Champions by seasons

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Season Champion (Title count) Runner-up
Categoría Primera C (Dimayor/Difútbol)
1991 Millonarios B (1) Deportes Dinastía
1993 Unión Magdalena B (1) América de Cali B
1994 Ferroclub (1) Millonarios B
1995–96 Cooperamos Tolima (1) La Equidad
1996 América de Cali B (1) Milán FC
1997 Escuela Carlos Sarmiento Lora (1) América de Cali B
1998 América de Cali B (2) Junior B
1999 Deportivo Pereira B (1) La Equidad
2000 El Cerrito F.C. (1) Atlético Bucaramanga B
2001 Independiente Medellín B (1) Deportivo Pereira B
Torneo Interclubes Primera C (Difútbol)
2002 Expreso Rojo (1) Once Caldas B
2003 Once Caldas B (1) Millonarios B
2004 Deportivo Cali B (1) Escuela Carlos Sarmiento Lora
2006 Paz y Futuro (1) Deportivo Cali B
2007 Boca Juniors de Soledad (1) Alianza Llanos
2008 Millonarios B (2) Palmares FC
2009 Palmarés FC (1) Boca Juniors de Sincelejo
2010 EHC Gobernación - Electrohuila (1) Uniautónoma
Torneo Nacional de Interclubes Primera C (Difútbol)
2021[14] Filipenses (1) Unión Pacífico Sur
2022[15] Total Soccer (1) Equipo Azul
2023[16] Total Soccer (2) Ciamen

Source for winners until 2010: Diario La Patria[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "La Primera C del fútbol colombiano, una tarea pendiente desde hace 19 años" [The Primera C of Colombian football, a pending task for 19 years] (in Spanish). El Espectador. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ "CON 66 EQUIPOS SE INICIA PRIMERA C" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 11 March 1995. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ "ADECUACIÓN EN LA PRIMERA B" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 2 July 1997. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  4. ^ "DOS FICHAS:" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 12 January 1999. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Especiales LMDF: La Feria de las fichas de los clubes del fútbol colombiano (o "¿Sabe usted dónde esta la ficha de su equipo en estos momentos?")" (in Spanish). La Monserga del Fútbol. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Álvaro González: 50 años de entrega y controversia en la dirigencia deportiva" (in Spanish). Antena 2. 29 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  7. ^ "En dos años, el fútbol colombiano podría tener Primera C" (in Spanish). Código Fútbol Comunicaciones. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  8. ^ ""Sostener la A y la B tiene un costo muy alto": Vélez" (in Spanish). Código Fútbol Comunicaciones. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  9. ^ "¿DISIDENCIA EN LA DIFÚTBOL? CREAN NUEVO GREMIO DE FÚTBOL AFICIONADO EN COLOMBIA" (in Spanish). Antena 2. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ "PROYECTO DE ASCENSOS Y DESCENSOS PARA EL FÚTBOL COLOMBIANO" (PDF). Semillerosdeportivos.com (in Spanish). ACCFA. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Conozca el proyecto que revolucionaría el fútbol en Colombia" (in Spanish). El Colombiano. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  12. ^ "AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA FÚTBOL 3ra DIVISIÓN CON ASCENSOS 23/11/2020 Comisión VII". Youtube.com (in Spanish). Comisión Séptima - Cámara de Representantes. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Ya es oficial: vuelve la primera C en Colombia" (in Spanish). Primer Tiempo. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Tumaco, subcampeón en torneo de la primera C" [Tumaco, runner-up in Primera C tournament] (in Spanish). Diario del Sur. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Total Soccer se coronó campeón del Torneo Nacional Interclubes – Primera C 2022" [Total Soccer were crowned champions of the 2022 Torneo Nacional Interclubes – Primera C] (in Spanish). Colombian Football Federation. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Total Soccer, de Medellín, campeón de la Primera C Nacional" [Total Soccer, from Medellín, Primera C Nacional champion] (in Spanish). Cápsulas de Carreño. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  17. ^ "La Primera C regresa al fútbol colombiano y busca el ascenso para el campeón" (in Spanish). La Patria. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
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