Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

 

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).

Top