The phrase “Caesar’s wife must not only be fair, but she must look fair” is attributed to the Roman emperor Julius Caesar.

Plutarch, the Greek historian, tells us that Publius Clodius Pulcherus, a fierce opponent of the last Roman republic, was madly in love with Pompey, Caesar’s wife; and in order to get closer to her, he disguised himself as a woman to enter the Bona Dea festival where men could not enter.

Caesar, aware of this situation, despite his belief in the innocence of Pompey, uttered this phrase that does not lose its importance.

Throughout history, the phrase has been used for a number of purposes, particularly in politics, to emphasize the need for people’s public actions to be consistent with the values ​​they claim to defend.

The phrase, which has already entered public life, also very well describes what, at least in theory, citizens expect from their authorities and, in general, from all those people who exercise power or represent citizens. That they not only “be”, but also “look”.

Of course, if we bring it down to our Ecuador, where anything is possible and where what in other societies would be disgusting here is part of the everyday landscape, it could also translate to at least “keeping fit”.

I mention this “Caesar’s wife” in connection with the constant discomfort that we who follow football, and especially the participation of the national football team, causes by insisting on inviting and forcing a young football player to play without any merit. it. The situation is made worse by the coincidence that I am a player (recently transferred abroad) of a team owned by a senior leader of the federation.

It is possible that this irregularity is not caused, as some fans and critics point out, by the management’s pressure on the coach to “prove” the player and then sell him abroad, because, on the other hand, there is no doubt. about the good work of the management, developed by the above-mentioned businessman-leader, which resulted in achievements for Ecuadorian football. At best, however, it would be an unfortunate coincidence that bears much thought, for, to refer to the phrase that bears the title of this article, “Caesar’s wife must not only be honest, but she must appear to be honest.”

The enthusiastic silence of a large part of the sports press should be highlighted.

Our society is broken and football cannot be an exception. Therefore, such situations cause justified doubts among citizens. Because of this, and as someone who is in debt is not afraid of anything, the technical director would do well to take a step forward and statistically justify, as it happens in great competition, the reasons for such a call; but also what is their philosophy of playing and the projections of this management of the national team. Perhaps with extensive exposition, we could understand the meteoric rise of this player from Serie B to play in the World Cup, and now to be the new “cry for a goal” (without goals) of the national team. (OR)