The sanctions regulator ruled in favor of La Franja and reinstated the three points from the Puebla victory over Xolos de Tijuana.
On Friday, September 1, Puebla and Xolos met on matchday 7 of the Apertura 2023 season in Liga MX. Puebla had won the clash 3-0, but the result was later nullified and overturned in favor of Tijuana due to an improper lineup by Puebla.
Confronted with this decision, the Puebla squad filed a non-compliance request with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (BAG) to challenge the sanction imposed by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).
Two months later, the football authorities delivered their ruling in favor of Puebla, restoring the three points from the win against Xolos. This adjustment reshaped the league table and shifted the dynamics around direct qualification for the playoffs, the Play-In spots, and the teams competing for a place in the top ten of the regular season standings.
With that decision, the overall classification of Apertura 2023 began to reflect new realities. Clubs that had hoped to secure a direct path to the quarterfinals suddenly found the margins tighter, while others ascended or slipped in their pursuit of postseason glory. The shake-up underscored how critical discipline and roster compliance are in a league where every point carries strategic weight for the long run of the season.
GOAL provides a detailed look at how the general table has evolved since that ruling, outlining how the adjustments ripple through teams’ placement, momentum, and prospects as the campaign moves toward its decisive moments. The recalibration highlights the close balance between on-field performance and regulatory decisions in shaping the competitive landscape of the Apertura 2023 season.
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