A Bogotá judge prohibited presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella from using the Colombian national football team’s shirt and symbols in his campaign [1].
The ruling establishes a legal boundary between national identity and political branding, preventing candidates from leveraging state or cultural symbols to gain an unfair electoral advantage.
Judge Aurora Forero [3] of the Juzgado 120 Penal Municipal [2] issued the provisional order on June 4, 2026 [1]. The mandate bars De la Espriella, who is running under the Defensores de la Patria banner, and his campaign staff from using the team's shirt, specific colors, or any associated emblems as identifiers or for political messaging [1].
The court determined that utilizing these symbols in a political context constitutes an improper appropriation of national imagery [4]. According to the judicial reasoning, such use could be employed to associate a specific candidate with the broader national identity, or to stigmatize political opponents [4].
This provisional measure remains in effect while the court resolves the underlying tutela action [1]. The decision targets the specific use of the attire as a campaign tool rather than a personal garment, a distinction aimed at protecting the neutrality of national symbols.
De la Espriella had integrated the iconic yellow jersey into his public appearances and campaign materials. The court's intervention seeks to ensure that the national team's image remains a unifying symbol for all citizens rather than a partisan asset [4].
“A Bogotá judge prohibited presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella from using the Colombian national football team’s shirt and symbols.”
This ruling underscores the Colombian judiciary's effort to prevent the 'weaponization' of national symbols in polarized political climates. By decoupling the national football team's identity from a specific candidate, the court is asserting that symbols of collective pride must remain neutral and cannot be legally co-opted for partisan gain.
