By Jhannet Sanchez
July 13 – The injury to Mexico’s star striker Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano in the opening Gold Cup clash against Trinidad and Tobago continues to be a talking point at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Mexican Football Federation (FMF) president Yon de Luisa has issued a statement saying that he has already sent letters to Concacaf and FIFA requesting that the officials provide more protection for the players, at the same time questioning whether referee Ricardo Montero should be allowed to continue.
“From the arbitration (officiating), in the FMF we have a great concern because it is not just the last game,” said Yon De Luisa. “We have sent communications to Concacaf and FIFA expressing this concern for the integrity of the Mexican player, we can no longer allow our players to be injured in matches where there is Concacaf arbitration.”
Lozano who was carted off the field during a 0-0 draw, hyperextended his neck in the 10th minute during a collision with Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.Lozano was hit in the head by Phillip’s left knee and left the field on a stretcher wearing a neck brace and bleeding from his head.
“There is no tournament that is above the physical integrity of my players, we are going to fight and we are going to give all the firm slaps (complaints), in any tournament,” added De Luisa. “We are going to do it which is the most important thing for us.”
When asked if the FMF will be seeking the retrospective disqualification of defender Alvin Jones who pushed Lozano towards the goalkeeper Phillip, catching Lozano with his knee, there was a clear no. But de Luisa was not so charitable towards the referee Montero.
“Disqualification (of the player) is not the solution, it is a clear push, the only one who did not see it was the referee and the people at the top of the VAR, with everything and the seven minutes they had,” commented De Luisa “The players of Trinidad and Tobago do not intend to hurt, we would not make any request for disqualification.”
Lozano will be out for 4-6 weeks and will miss the rest of the Gold Cup. De Luisa updated Lozano Lozano’s progress saying: “We were able to talk with him, he was in pain but in general he was calm. I can’t say he was happy, but he was fine. That blow was really beastly causing more than 40 stitches. Due to the injury he will be in a series of reviews with the doctors here in Dallas, who asked us to stay here for at least a week.”
Contact the writer of this story Jhannet Sanchez at moc.l1734807272labto1734807272ofdlr1734807272owedi1734807272sni@o1734807272fni1734807272