Internacional de Bogotá inició con el pie izquierdo: se habría adueñado del nombre, escudo y proyecto de otro equipo

Internacional de Bogotá made its debut in Colombian football by taking over La Equidad, which ceased to exist due to decisions made by its new investment group, Tylis-Porter. This group not only changed the name but also altered the emblem, colors, and institutional project, hoping to win the affection of the capital.

However, Inter started poorly due to accusations of appropriating the identity of Bogotá FC, which has spent over two decades in professional football, known for developing international talents like Gustavo Puerta and consistently fighting for promotion to the Liga BetPlay.

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The vice president of the red and yellow team, Jenny Perdomo, spoke with Infobae Colombia about the discontent regarding the name, emblem, and even the sporting project of the other team, which is also currently facing a process in the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce regarding the brand.

Infobae: After the presentation of Internacional de Bogotá, what is the source of discontent from Bogotá regarding the brand?

Jenny Perdomo: We are pleased to see foreign investment arrive, that our football diversifies, and that competition strengthens. It benefits us all by forcing us to work harder to improve. However, we have significant discontent over the name assigned to La Equidad and its emblem, but it’s not just that; we also notice striking similarities in everything that encompasses the creation or establishment of the brand they are currently trying to position.

For 22 years, we have been the team representing the city by name, because we not only call ourselves Bogotá—with the colors of our city—but we also carry a message of inclusion, showing that no matter where you come from, this is the team for true Bogotá supporters. We see many similarities in everything surrounding their vision and the way they want to brand themselves.

Additionally, we noticed considerable resemblance in the emblem, where the most prominent word is not Inter, but Bogotá. Furthermore, thanks to their presentation, we discovered where their badge originates and the symbolism behind it. The eagle they feature symbolizes the same thing ours does, represented in the way of the stripes. An emblem that we designed ten years ago is now being replicated exactly by them. Thus, it generates a degree of discontent.

Besides the word Bogotá, the new team has also appropriated the name of Internacional de Palmira…

Yes, the point here is that according to the regulations, no one can claim the name of a city. Therefore, anyone can use the term Bogotá, but for us, it feels like unfair competition, because ultimately, we don’t own the word Bogotá, and anyone can use it. However, in this closed market of professional Colombian football, we have worked for 22 years to establish ourselves as Bogotá.

In fact, we have countless news articles shared across various media outlets, and it always refers to us as Bogotá. So, in Colombia, within this niche of the professional football market, people know us as Bogotá. But it transcends to an international level too. When we transferred Gustavo Puerta to Germany, many local media outlets reported him coming from Bogotá. The same goes for Cristian Dájome when he was transferred to Vancouver, and Mauricio Medina to Puebla. Now that they identify themselves as Inter Bogotá, it creates significant confusion, not just nationally but internationally.

For us, it is a concern because we are a growing, hardworking, and humble team. We have already established a presence in this market niche, and now, it will be unclear whether it’s Inter Bogotá, Bogotá, or who is transferring the players, undermining all the effort we put into positioning ourselves.

During the recent Dimayor assembly, what was Internacional de Bogotá’s response for choosing that name and emblem?

I cannot say what their intentions are. I believe they wish to position themselves as the team representing Bogotá, which is something we have also endeavored to do for 22 years. It saddens us because it’s the work we’ve built with our colors, emblem, and locations, and it seems they found it easy to just say, “let’s call ourselves Bogotá and follow this strategy.”

We know the president of Inter de Palmira was also dissatisfied with this name. At first, we expressed our concerns to the management of La Equidad and reiterated them several times in the Dimayor assembly, as well as to representatives from Internacional de Palmira.

And they weren’t able to address that issue in the assembly…

This matter regarding brands isn’t something that can be discussed in Dimayor. Regardless, when we initiated this process opposing the formalization of the new name that La Equidad wants to use—which is still under review by the SIC—they have not declared, “Yes, you can use Internacional de Bogotá.” It’s an ongoing process.

We kindly requested the teams for a letter recognizing us as the team named Bogotá, and 32 clubs acknowledged us as the team known as Bogotá. We saw solidarity from the vast majority of clubs affirming they recognize us and our work.

Another point is that the Bogotá Mayor’s Office is also a sponsor of Internacional. Have you spoken to the district regarding this kind of support?

Not only do we lack support from the mayor’s office, but we also face many obstacles to opening the Techo stadium because the regulations for playing in Bogotá are very different from those in any other city in Colombia. For us, it is costly to open the stadium, which complicates our efforts to promote our brand, reach our fans, and continue our growth.

In fact, we have three times more followers on social media than La Equidad, which also contributes to our distress because, although they have been growing, their name being linked to ours causes confusion for people trying to follow them on social platforms.

This initial support given to La Equidad brings joy as it encourages the district’s involvement in sports activities promoting social and recreational spaces. However, wouldn’t it be wonderful if this support were extended to all teams, not just one? We have worked in the same direction, invested similarly, and contributed to youth and social causes.

Thus, it’s an invitation for them to consider other teams that, while perhaps not at the same competitive level, are nonetheless making significant contributions to football, both nationally and in Bogotá.

How is Bogotá FC’s project progressing for 2026?

Our dream is to ascend to the first division, and we know it is just a matter of time. We are a team with tighter financial resources, which makes our achievements even more commendable. I always say that true greatness lies not in what you have, but in how much you can achieve with little.

We are one of the teams that transfers the most players, having a very important youth academy in Colombia. Currently, we have almost eight players in first division teams that we hope to leverage for resources to invest further in our dream of reaching the first division.

We are currently reviewing our player roster, holding tryouts, and determining how to work towards achieving our goal of first division status. It’s inspiring to see young and modest teams like Real Cundinamarca starting to make history, prompting us to strive for the same level.

Generally, we have been among the top eight teams and are working to maintain that status. However, what matters most for Bogotá Fútbol Club is for people to recognize it as a team that cares for the people, a team for and of the people. We have engaged in meaningful social work, helping many animals in need.

Currently, we are also supporting a beautiful cause related to a football school in the Kennedy locality, in the La Roma neighborhood, that helps children train without needing to pay, in exchange for sorting household waste generated from daily exercises. We remain committed to our social efforts. It is our focus, our vision, and we will do everything we can to make Bogotá a team for and by the people.

How is the team doing financially? Recently, Deportivo Pereira filed for bankruptcy due to economic issues.

Thank God, we are a team that owes nothing to anyone, and we pay our collaborators on time, as we always feel it’s our responsibility. The first five days of each month, we ensure that salaries are paid because our staff is the foundation of everything, and we hold a great respect for all the individuals helping us make this dream a reality.

Thanks to this, we’ve been able to build a strong team. Many of our staff members have been with us for years, which results in low employee turnover. We are proud of that. We also have no tax debts, having complied with every requirement. Our ability to transfer players has helped maintain our economic stability, and we have no financial issues.

And in terms of sports? It seems the Primera B will maintain the same semester format in 2025…

We proposed that the model should change, advocating for a year-long tournament instead of two separate tournaments, with three teams being promoted and three relegated. Unfortunately, we could not bring about a change in the tournament structure.