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SANTIAGO, CHILE
(AP) Chiles soccer federation suspended six players,
including captain Jorge Valdivia, from the upcoming World Cup qualifiesrs for going on a drunken rampage at the Copa America in Venezuela.
In addition to being suspended from the national team for 20 matches,
Valdivia, Jorge Vargas, Pablo Contreras, Reinaldo Navia, Rodrigo Tello, and Alvaro Ormeno were fined their $7,200 bonus for helping Chile reach the quarterfinals of the South American championship
Chilean federation general manager Gustavo Camelio announced the punishment while reading a short statement in Chile on Tuesday.
The announecment comes a day after Nelson Acosta resigned as manager of the Chilean team, which returned home after a 6-1 defeat to Brazil in the quarterfinals.
After Chile qualified for the quarterfinals with a scoreless draw against Mexico, Acosta gave permission for his player to leave the hotel in Puerto Ordaz, where the team was based.
But when they returned before dawn in a drunken state after a night out, the group led by Valdivia allegedly destroyed furniture in their hotel lobby and insulted other hotel guests.
Camelio did not describe in detail how much damage was caused, but said interviews with hotel staff, federation employees traveling with the team, and four of the six players involced supported media reports about the incident.
The majority of the players would not comment on the sanctions, but Santiago daily newspaper EL MERCURIO quoted Valdivia, who plays for Brazil's Palmieras, as saying "he wasn't interested" in discussing the suspension.
The suspension means that none of the players will play in the 18 game South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, beginning in September.
(AP) Chiles soccer federation suspended six players,
including captain Jorge Valdivia, from the upcoming World Cup qualifiesrs for going on a drunken rampage at the Copa America in Venezuela.In addition to being suspended from the national team for 20 matches,
Valdivia, Jorge Vargas, Pablo Contreras, Reinaldo Navia, Rodrigo Tello, and Alvaro Ormeno were fined their $7,200 bonus for helping Chile reach the quarterfinals of the South American championship
Chilean federation general manager Gustavo Camelio announced the punishment while reading a short statement in Chile on Tuesday.
The announecment comes a day after Nelson Acosta resigned as manager of the Chilean team, which returned home after a 6-1 defeat to Brazil in the quarterfinals.
After Chile qualified for the quarterfinals with a scoreless draw against Mexico, Acosta gave permission for his player to leave the hotel in Puerto Ordaz, where the team was based.
But when they returned before dawn in a drunken state after a night out, the group led by Valdivia allegedly destroyed furniture in their hotel lobby and insulted other hotel guests.
Camelio did not describe in detail how much damage was caused, but said interviews with hotel staff, federation employees traveling with the team, and four of the six players involced supported media reports about the incident.
The majority of the players would not comment on the sanctions, but Santiago daily newspaper EL MERCURIO quoted Valdivia, who plays for Brazil's Palmieras, as saying "he wasn't interested" in discussing the suspension.
The suspension means that none of the players will play in the 18 game South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, beginning in September.
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