Posted on February 18, 2012
Here’s a cautionary tale for all National Team players that don’t want to play in international matches for their country:
Midfielder Christian Bolanos won’t be playing any of the CONCACAF World Cup semifinal round qualifying matches for Costa Rica, according to CONCACAF.com.
The reason why?
He refused to play in two friendlies for the Ticos in November.
The Costa Rican Football Federation suspended Bolanos on Wednesday.
He turned down requests to play for the Central American side at Panama on Nov. 11 and vs. Spain in San Jose, Costa Rica four days later, the website reported.
The 27-year-old Bolanos began his professional career in 2001 with Saprissa and now plays with FC Copenhagen in Denmark.
Costa Rican federation disciplinary committee member Rodrigo Araya said that Bolanos received permission from coach Jorge Luis Pinto to appear late for training camp, but then failed to do as agreed, according to Costa Rican media reports. Instead. he claimed that he was injured.
Araya added no proof of injury was ever presented, the reports said.
Bolanos has played for the Ticos for the past seven years, including the 2005, 2007 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups.
Costa Rica will begin its World Cup qualifying campaign on June 8. The Ticos will play five more games before finishing on Oct. 15. Bolanos, whose suspension will last until Dec. 15, has until Monday to appeal the decision, the Costa Rican federation said.
Photo: Christian Bolanos has been suspended by Costa Rica for the World Cup qualifying semifinal round. Wade Jackson/YCJ
Categories: Central America, Costa Rica, World Cup Qualifying
Tags: Christian Bolnaos, Copenhagen FC, Jorge Luis Pinto, Rodrigo Araya, Saprissa
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