By Paul Nicholson
July 24 – The Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT), bitter at their semi-final loss in the Gold Cup to Mexico on Wednesday evening have escalated their public complaints, now calling for the resignation of the whole CONCACAF Referees Committee citing “insulting and shameful” refereeing. The demand was made in a statement on their website.
Mexico defeated Panama 2-1 in extra time, both Mexico’s goals being penalties with the first one being awarded in added time.
Panama’s players, bidding for a second successive Gold Cup final (they lost to the US in 2013), were already angered by the sending off of striker Luis Tejada for a reckless foul on 25 minutes.
Panama had then played heroically with 10 men and were heading for the final until the controversial award of the injury time penalty that took the match into extra time. The Panamanian players erupted, hounding the US referee with objects being thrown from the stands – not an uncommon sight involving central American teams at the Gold Cup when decisions have not gone their way.
The referee up to that point had not been involved in any controversial decisions in matches in which he had officiated at the Gold Cup. The obvious next step that CONCACAF will take, if they haven’t already done so, will be to examine the betting patterns around the match with their fraud monitoring partner Sportradar to see if there is possible match-fixing.
Failing that, and so far there is no evidence to suggest betting related match-fixing, then Panama’s accusation – if they maintain it – is that the referee deliberately favoured Mexico. Panama are claiming that referees have deliberately whistled against them throughout the tournament – something of a wild claim, but then these are wild times within CONCACAF.
However, it seems more likely the case that the referee in the semi-final made an unfortunate error.
The penalty awarded to Mexico in extra time was hard to dispute, but by then the Panamanians had lost their cool and the referee and his assistants required security as they left the pitch amid chaotic scenes.
Panama in their statement claim that refereeing had been against them from the start of the tournament, saying: “What happened on Wednesday in the semi-final against Mexico was the last straw in a repetitive situation that has been taking place since our team’s first game.”
Panama will now face the US in the third place play-off in Philadelphia on Saturday. The final takes place Sunday with Mexico, eight times Gold Cup winners, playing first time finalists Jamaica.
It is not thought that the FEPAFUT have filed an official complaint to CONCACAF, which would be the normal procedure.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734806090labto1734806090ofdlr1734806090owedi1734806090sni@n1734806090osloh1734806090cin.l1734806090uap1734806090