THE COVID CASES THAT MAY DECIDE THE CONCACAF QUALIFIERS
The Jamaican Football Federation launched a complaint to FIFA regarding Costa Rica using two players that were positive for COVID-19. If the complaint is found to be true, Costa Rica will be penalized 3 points which will may settle the top four in the tournament.
THE CLAIM
The JFF claims that a total of six members of the Costa Rican representative tested positive upon their arrival in Jamaica. Of those, one player and three staff members were isolated from the squad. However, they state that two players with positive tests played in the qualifier.
THE COUNTERCLAIM
For their part, Costa Rican officials claim that the two players in question had tested positive before, and had completed the COVID Protocols set up by CONCACAF and FIFA. They claim that the players who produced positive results were recovered cases with less than 25 days of having had a positive result for COVID-19. So, they state that no wrongdoing was committed.
THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES
If Costa Rica is found to not have violated any COVID-19 protocols, then the next three games will remain crucial in Los Ticos hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. They will need to win the remaining nine points and hope that Panama, the USA, or Mexico stumble in their last three matches.
However, if they are found in violation, they will be stripped of three points dropping them to 13 points. Even if they win out, the max amount of points they can reach is 22 points, which means Mexico and the USA will need only two points in their remaining three games to secure the top four.
Rest assured that the squads currently in the top four will be anxiously awaiting the verdict of this complaint. What do you think? Should Costa Rica be penalized? Or do protocols need to change moving into the last round of qualifiers?
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