Costa Rica’s Appeal to FIFA After Getting Beaten by the U.S (and a Snowstorm) Got Rejected

FIFA rejects Costa Rica’s appeal on Tuesday. According to the governing body, Costa Rica did not meet the official protest’s regulation. If the protest was about the condition of the field and its markings, a written appeal should have been made by the head of the delegation before the game started. If it was during play, the captain of the team making an appeal should talk to the referee, with the captain of the opposing team present. A written protest must then be submitted at the conclusion of the game. Therefore the result of the game is final.

2014 World Cup

Next year is World Cup time for football and qualifying rounds are played in earnest. Last Friday was the qualifying game between Costa Rica and the United States. It was the 4th round of the group matches among the teams in the North, Central American and Caribbean group where both teams are members. The game, played at Commerce City in Colorado was marred by controversy, the snowstorm kind. Playing in the snow was very difficult but the Americans played a good game and went on to win the match with a 1-0 score. The controversial game, which for the Costa Ricans put them at a disadvantage because they were unaccustomed to the snow, promptly filed an appeal to FIFA to have the game replayed.

What went wrong?

Light snow was already falling as the World Cup qualifier was about to start. As the evening wore on the snow fall got heavier, covering the lines and making it difficult for the players to see the ball and their teammates. The Americans who were wearing their white uniform could barely be seen at times. Shovels and plows were used to clear most of the field of snow so play could continue. A purple and yellow ball was used to make it visible. Jorge Luis Pinto, the Costa Rican coach approached match commissioner Victor Daniel from Grenada and Joel Aguilar, referee from El Salvador to request that the game be suspended ten minutes into the second half of the game. Jurgen Klinsmann, the coach of the U.S. team said it was just the lines that were covered, which could be cleared, and so the game was allowed to continue.

The U.S. team was leading 1-0 during the first half, thanks to an opportune deflection from Roy Miller which bounced towards Clint Dempsey who was acting as captain that night. It turned out that his right foot kick right in front of the goal would be enough for them to win the game. Dempsey, who plays for Tottenham Spurs in the English Premier League, is used to the wet weather in England.

Last Friday’s game is the reverse of the situation the U.S. team had to endure when they played against Honduras in February. Game time temperature was in the higher 30 degrees C. The American players almost collapsed in the humidity and heat and ended up losing the game with a 1-2 score.

The win puts the U.S., which now has three points, right next to group leader Honduras with four points. Costa Rica is at the bottom of the group with one point.