On 12 October 1996, during a week 7 match between
C.D. Marathón and
Club Deportivo Olimpia, then Marathón's president
José Yacamán ordered his team to quit the game as he claimed that they were being targeted by referee
Arturo Tábora with controversial calls. The game was not resumed and the result stood 1–2 to Olimpia.[2]
In the last round,
C.D. Motagua defeated
Independiente Villela at
Tegucigalpa with a 7–2 score. This game sentenced Independiente to certain relegation. However, the Chorizeros protested that Motagua had included defender
Júnior Izaguirre in its lineup. Izaguirre, who was on the bench that day, saw a red card in a reserves game a week prior. In order to avoid further conflicts, the league decided to abolish relegation and invited Independiente to play in the
1997–98 season.