An internal conflict at Sporting San Miguelito has reached a public level, leading to a rift between two key figures: Sporting director Gabriel 'Gavilán' Gómez and veteran player Armando Cooper. The conflict, which began amid a sporting crisis, has escalated into a legal dispute between the club and the Panamanian Footballers Association (Afutpa). Gómez has taken responsibility for the situation but avoided detailing the specific causes, while Cooper aired his version extensively on social media, accusing the director of failing to shed his player mentality. The players were separated from the team after being informed by the physical trainer. Cooper denies serious misconduct and claims his departure was due to internal situations. The situation worsened with public statements, including on social media, prompting the club to issue an official statement declaring such actions incompatible with its principles. The club's new coach, Julio César Dely Valdés, acknowledged the difficulty of managing a group in a tense environment.
