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Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraes
has named a squad of 20 players for their controversial World Cup
warm-up match with Iran.
The Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefutbol) have received criticism
at their decision to play in Iran whose president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
has fuelled controversy with outspoken remarks about Israel and the
holocaust.
National newspaper La Nacion branded the trip "an uncomfortable visit"
and added that it was "a serious mistake" due to the current political
climate in the middle eastern country.
FA president Hermes Navarro fired back saying: "Football is above any
politic problem or even religious or racial discrimination.
"FIFA have 207 affiliated countries and don't accept this. The day
football admits it, it would be horrible and I'm sure football would
disappear."
Navarro's views are not backed by deputy Aida Faingezicht, who sent a
letter to Fedefutbol demanding that the match be called off, considering
it "improper" and that the Iranian government maintain
"ultraconservative postures which limit women's freedom and back
terrorist movements".
Navarro replied: "I understand what Aida says, but if we have those
prejudices, we cannot face China, Russia or the United States neither."
Both Costa Rica and Iran will play in the World Cup. Costa Rica are in
Group A alongside Germany, Ecuador and Poland, while Iran share Group D
with Mexico, Portugal and Angola.
Paulo Cesar Wanchope, who missed the 1-0 win over South Korea, returns
for "los ticos" for the match in Tehran on March 1.
Costa Rica squad: Alvaro Mesen (Herediano), Adrian de Lemos (Brujas);
Roy Miller (Bodo/Glimt), Gilberto Martinez (Brescia), Jervis Drummond (Saprissa),
Michael Rodriguez Gutierrez (Alajuelense), Douglas Sequeira (Real Salt
Lake); Junior Diaz Campbell (Herediano), Daniel Fonseca (Cartagines),
Carlos Hernandez Valverde (Alajuelense), Christian Bolanos, Randall
Azofeifa (both Saprissa), Winston Parks (Saturn Moscow Region); Victor
Nunez (Cartagines), Kurt Bernard (Puntarenas), Paulo Cesar Wanchope (Herediano).
Reserves: Wardy Alfaro Pizarro (Alajuelense), Carlos Johnson (Herediano),
Michael Umana (Brujas), Alvaro Saborio (Saprissa). |
