March 27 – Costa Rica’s protest to FIFA over being forced to play their World Cup qualifier against the United States in a snowstorm has been thrown out on a technicality, a ruling that seems certain to incense the central American country.
FIFA referred to a clause in its 2014 World Cup Regulations which the Costa Rican FA had to fulfil in order to force a replay of last Friday’s controversial fixture in Colorado which the Americans won 1-0.
According to these rules, Costa Rica should have complained in writing to the match referee, Joel Aguilar of El Salvador, before kick-off. Additionally their captain, Bryan Ruiz, was required to “immediately lodge a protest” with the referee if he believed the pitch had become unplayable during the match. The US captain, Clint Dempsey, needed to be present for such a protest.
Most crucially the regulations state that all post-match protests must be filed in writing to FIFA’s administration “no later than two hours after the match”. It appears the Costa Rican complaint was not submitted in time.
“FIFA received a letter via email and fax from the Costa Rica FA on March 24 with regards to the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier played on March 22 between USA and Costa Rica,” FIFA said in a statement. “The conditions established in the regulations for an official protest have not been met by the Costa Rica FA.”
“FIFA has examined the content of the letter and… has confirmed that the conditions established in the regulations for an official protest have not been met by the Costa Rica FA. Therefore, the result of the match played on March 22 stands and is considered as valid.”
Costa Rican officials issued a statement on Sunday, saying the match “went against the sporting spectacle [and] the physical integrity of the officials and players.” Their coach said it was an “embarrassment to football.”
Costa Rica bounced back on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Jamaica but on the same night, the USA held Mexico to a goalless away draw, only the second time in their history that they had avoided defeat at the Azteca stadium and their first away point against Mexico since 1997.
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