Chile stars get huge ban after 'rampage'
Thursday July 12 2007
CHILE'S soccer federation suspended six players - including captain Jore Validivia - from the upcoming World Cup qualifiers for going on a drunken rampage at the Copa America in Venezuela.
In addition to being suspended from the national team for 20 matches, Validivia, Jorge Vargas, Pablo Contreras, Reinaldo Navia, Rodrigo Tello and Alvaro Ormeno were fined their €5,250 bonus for helping Chile reach the quarter-finals of the South American championship.
The announcement came a day after Nelson Acosta resigned as manager of the Chilean team, who returned home following a 6-1 defeat by Brazil in the quarter-finals.
After Chile qualified for the quarter-finals with scoreless draw against Mexico, Acosta gave permission for his players 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.
Chilean federation general manager Gustavo Camelio did not describe in detail how much damage was caused by the rampage.
However, he said the interviews with hotel staff, federation employees traveling with the team and four of the six players involved supported media reports about the incident.
The majority of the players would not comment on the sanctions, but Santiago daily El Mercurio quoted Valdivia, who plays for Brazil's Palmeiras, as saying "he wasn't interested" in discussing the suspension.
The ban virtually guarantees none of the players will play in the 18-game South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, beginning in September.
The players - none of whom play for club teams in Chile - also will be banned from ever serving as Chile's captain under the current soccer federation's leadership if and when they are ever called again to play for the national team.
- Marcos Tamudo
