PANAMA CITY The Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT) has demanded the 10-member CONCACAF Referees Committee resign en masse following what it called the “insulting and shameful” refereeing during this month’s Gold Cup.
Advertisement
Jamaica’s “Reggae Boyz” stunned defending champion United States 2-1 Wednesday in a Gold Cup semifinal, becoming the first Caribbean squad to reach the final by shocking the heavily favored host.
But that was nothing compared to the second semi.
Panama were dealt a huge blow midway through the first half when Tejeda was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Maza, and the reaction of players from both sides delayed the game for a few minutes as the officials struggled to control proceedings.
Mexico’s Andres Guardado reacts after scoring his second penalty kick in extra time in El Tri’s 2-1 victory over Panama in the Gold Cup semifinals.
As it happens, Mr. Guardado scored that ill-fated penalty kick against Costa Rica, and he would even kick another one last night during overtime: at the 104-minute mark, Javier Orozco, who had been invisible since he entered the match off a substitution, got tangled feet and fell inside the box during an attack against Panama.
After the match, the Panamanian players posed for a photo under a banner calling CONCACAF corrupt thieves. In the 89th minute of play, Mexico shot the ball towards the net, and Torres was pushed on the ball and ground by a Mexican defender. How much he knew about it is another matter.
The controversial play started when Mexico’s Orribe Peralta rose up to take a shot very late in the scoreless game.
Calm was eventually re¬stored, but the extended mess took so long that by the time Guardado left-footed his first penalty kick into the bottom right corner to equalize, it was the 10th minute of stoppage time.
“No one ever does that”, Herrera said.
Guardado, a midfielder, also scored the decisive goal on a penalty kick in Mexico’s 1-0 quarterfinal win over Costa Rica. But the result was still 1-0 Mexico, Mexico did win, the team and their fans will celebrate (as they should) and they get to live another day in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Benches cleared with players and fans throwing bottles. “I won’t because of the group (of players) I have”, Colombian Gomez told reporters after the defeat at the Georgia Dome.
Geiger was escorted from the field by a ring of police and security guards.
Advertisement
Maradona was clearly aggrieved by the decision favouring Mexico and was quick to point at an incident from the 1990 World Cup involving a Mexican referee. Then in contradiction of Panama in the semifinal round, their adversaries were reduced 10 men in just the 25th minute.
