The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday said it had removed the Colombian professional soccer team America de Cali from its blacklist. This highly unusual announcement carried a simple message – barred people and entities that cut ties to criminals can and do see U.S. sanctions lifted. Treasury prohibited financial transactions involving America de Cali, which is also known as Corporacion Deportiva America, in 1999 because the team was owned or controlled by drug traffickers linked to the Cali Cartel. America de Cali, based in the western Colombia city of Cali, plays both domestic and international matches and is one of the country's most successful teams. Treasury said its decision to "delist" the team means U.S. persons can now enter into financial transactions with the ownership of the team. "Today's lifting of the designation of America de Cali is a testament to the enormous efforts made in recent years by both the team and the Colombian government to completely break
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