(QCOSTARICA SPORTS) After the Mexico – Costa Rica quarter finals Gold Cup game last night, Mexican journalist David Faitelson for ESPN Deportes tweeted about the serious referee error that Costa Rica the game and out of the Gold Cup, advancing Mexico to the semi-finals.
The journalist questioned the “Fair Play”, saying that the interests of the CONCACAF are greater and Mexico had to advance at any cost.
Mexico had dominated play but was unable to score until the final moments. The Ticos couldn’t take advantage of the few opportunities they were given. The game remained scoreless during regulation time and two extra time periods, until Andres Guardado scored in the second and final minute of stoppage time in extra time, after a questionable call by the referee.
After the penalty was awarded, the Ticos swarmed the referee and his assistant, furious with the call that replays showed was suspect to say the least. La Sele coach Pablo Wanchope, in the post game press conference, touched on the penalty call, but refused to blame the loss on that call alone.
“I was worried with the background of the referee. Things in football are like this; he is human. He saw something in the area and that’s why he called the penalty. Today we played to the limit and we competed intensely. I am not creating any speculation; I am hurt and I think the players are hurt. But we are not making excuses, we are out and now we will go into the future, ” said Wanchope
But Faitelson wasn’t so forgiving.
“Mexico won, but I’m not sure they won ‘fairly’. The ‘interests’ are very powerful, we all know the Concacaf, the ‘new’ or ‘old’ want Mexico and the U.S. in the final“, wrote Faitelson.
While the Ticos pack their bags for home, waiting for November when World Cup qualifiers begin, Mexico and Panama ger ready for their game on Wednesday (July 22).
Mexico had to advance at any costs, FIFA is beginning to act a lot like a bureaucratic government. Eaven tough there were a couple of resignations, the “old guard” still thinks “business as usual”. In my mind, the ticos should have walked off the field in protest…but that wouldn’t be “fair play”, what a crock. I am deeply disappointed, not to say angry at the blatant farce that is FIFA !!!
FIFA is beginning to act a lot like a bureaucratic government