Door slammed on Costa Rica after crowd trouble
9 March 2005
by FIFAworldcup.com

Costa Rica will be forced to play their second 2006 FIFA World Cup
Germanyâ„¢ final-round qualifier against Panama behind closed doors due
to the crowd trouble that accompanied their 1-2 loss to Mexico on 9
February.

The sentence, handed down by FIFA, carries a 17,000 USD fine and
seriously hamstrings the recently crowned UNCAF Champions' hopes of
reaching their second consecutive FIFA World Cup finals as one of the
automatic top-three finishers from the region. The 26 March clash with
the ever-improving Panamanians was always going to be a tough test.
But now, without the fevered support of the much-feared Saprissa
stadium faithful, the home side's worries will no doubt be doubled.

Their loss to Mexico last month - a first defeat to El Tri on home
soil since 1961 - sparked off an angry response from the packed house
of fans. As Mexican players left the pitch they had to be shielded by
police from a hailstorm of tossed objects from the crowd including
cigarette lighters, coins and batteries.

A statement released by Costa Rica's Football Federation earlier in
the week claimed they would be seeking an appeal, citing the imposed
sanctions too harsh to fit the crime.

After one match, Mexico and the United States lead the six-team
Hexagonal standings with three points apiece. Panama - Costa Rica's
opponent for the behind-closed-doors match on 26 March – earned
themselves a 1-1 draw with Guatemala and a share of the middle of the
table.

Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago sit in the basement with zero points
from their opening matches.

The second-round of fixtures also pits Guatemala against T&T on the
26th and the U.S. against Mexico at the Azteca in the round's marquis
clash the day after.

There's two good matches tomorrow...Real Madrid plays at Juventus, and
Bayern Munich plays at Arsenal.

FIFA Eases Costa Rica Sanctions: Zurich, Switzerland -
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association
(FIFA) has announced a reduction in the penalty levied
against Costa Rica for unruly fan behavior during a
qualifier for the 2006 World Cup. Costa Rica still must
play its March 26 home qualifier against Panama without
fans, but its fine was reduced from $17,000 to $8,500.
Costa Rica was punished because spectators threw objects
at opposing players during last month's 2-1 loss to
Mexico.