CONMEBOL Suspends Scaloni and Gareca
Ricardo Gareca, coach of the Chilean national team, did not attend the official pre-match press conference on Friday before the game against Canada, as he was sanctioned by CONMEBOL with a one-match suspension. The same situation affects Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, who will also be unable to manage his team against Peru.
"Ricardo was on his way to the press conference when we received the official CONMEBOL communication about the suspension for one match. He returned to the hotel, and we tried to resolve it, which is why we are here," said Chilean assistant coach Sergio Santín.
CONMEBOL later announced that both coaches violated Articles 104 and 145 of the regulations, with the reason being their teams' repeated late arrivals on the field after halftime. Both federations have also been fined $15,000.
Article 145 of the competition regulations specifies: "If the players of a team appear on the field later than the scheduled time for the start or resumption of the game, or disobey the referee's or match delegate's instructions, the responsible association may be sanctioned by CONMEBOL's disciplinary bodies with a warning for a first offense and a fine for second or subsequent offenses."
Sergio Santín explained that Gareca "cannot be on the field during the match; upon arrival, he has to go to the stands. He cannot be on the field. That is the information we have," the assistant coach indicated at the press conference.
Lionel Scaloni will also be unable to sit on the bench at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami for tomorrow's match against Peru in the third round of Group A.