Reggae Boyz Handed Controversial Glimmer Of Hope For Qatar 2022
Jamaica’s potential participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals may well yet take a controversial turn after it has been alleged that a pair of Costa Rican players were involved in the Reggae Boyz’ 1-0 in Kingston last night (2 February).
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) are determined to lodge a complaint with football’s governing body. This could result in the Boyz being awarded maximum points, to propel them back into the mix with a slender shot of appearing at Qatar 2022 in November.
Jamaica needed a win inside the National Stadium, on top of group results going in their favour of for the remainder of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. But recently-installed head coach Paul Hall saw his side slip up to maintain his 100 percent losing record at the helm from four matches.
Dr Guyan Arscott, the JFF medical chief, spoke exclusively to The Jamaica Gleaner with allegations that half-a-dozen of the Costa Rican contingency, which included three players, had tested positive for COVID on arrival at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday.
He is quoted as stating: ”I can confirm that there were six Costa Ricans that tested positive for COVID. Three were non-players and three were players.
“One player was isolated because his test was deemed to be relatively new. We recommended that those two players should be isolated or should not be allowed to play.
“We had some discussions with the members of the Ministry of Health and we wondered if they had some new infections, having tested negative before they left Costa Rica.
“Be that as it may, with the positive test, we felt we were duty bound to recommend that they not play.”
Dr Arscott further claimed that the same trio of players had tested positive for the coronavirus a few weeks ago, but that they had been cleared after completing a period of self-isolation and also producing negative test results.
He alleged: “They had tested positive a fortnight or so before. We were told that they did their quarantine and isolation and tested negative before leaving Costa Rica. But on arrival in Jamaica they tested positive at our official lab.”
JFF general secretary Dalton Wint also spoke to the leading newspaper on the island, and explained: “I don’t know what we can appeal, but I am sure I will be sending something to FIFA to inquire as to why this happened because this is an absolute breach of the rules.”
Former Arsenal star Joel Campbell, who boasts some Jamaican heritage, scored the winner on 62 minutes in the closed doors clash that ended the dream for the Boyz to reach a World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.
However, should an appeal result in Jamaica being awarded three points despite the reversal to Costa Rica then with three more qualifiers remaining – El Salvador, table-topping Canada and rock bottom Honduras – next month then the Boyz could controversially snatch fourth place.
Jamaica have definitely missed out on the three automatic qualifying berths, but fourth spot in the eight-nation group ensures an inter-confederation play-off.
Yet with just seven points from 11 games so far, the Boyz would need a minor miracle to turn around their fortunes starting with maximum points from their Costa Rica clash.
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying results: El Salvador 0 Canada 2, Jamaica 0 Costa Rica 1, Mexico 1 Panama 0, USA 3 Honduras 0
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying table (after 11 games): Canada 25pts (+14 goal difference), USA 21pts (+9), Mexico 21pts (+6), Panama 17pts (+1), Costa Rica 16pts (+1), El Salvador 9pts (-7), Jamaica 7pts (-8), Honduras 3pts (-17)
Jamaica’s remaining matches
El Salvador (h) 24 March, Canada (a) 27 March, Honduras (h) 30 March
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