The Conmebol He says that the size of the pitches cannot be an excuse to justify the delays of the national teams after the break, an infraction that has cost four coaches the suspension in this America Cup. The coach of Peru, Ricardo Gareca; the one from Argentina, Lionel Scaloni; and that of Venezuela, Fernando Batistawere unable to lead their teams in the third round of the group stage, and neither will Uruguay’s coach be able to do so tonight, Marcelo Bielsafor being repeat offenders in entering the field of play before the start of the second half of their matches.
The unusual situation, which is stipulated in the competition regulations in articles 104 and 145, has prompted complaints from coaches, who believe, among other reasons, that the distance from the playing field to the locker rooms, in stadiums designed mostly to host American football matches, causes them to take longer to return to the field.
The most direct was the Uruguayan Jorge Fossati, coach of Peru, one of those not sanctioned for this reason. “It would be worth a little adjustment to see if we are given the necessary time, so that the serious error of coming out a couple of minutes late is not committed and the coaches are responsible, as if we told the players to come out later and we were responsible for a player staying longer,” he told reporters before the match with Argentina, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
“There are many things to consider. When the first half ends, it’s not the time to set the clock, but when you get to the locker room. In many stadiums, the locker room is about a kilometer away and that has to be considered. I don’t think it’s good for the celebration that is the Cup that the head coach can’t be there for this simple detail, although when you work with a coaching staff, the absence of the head coach is not going to affect it,” he added.
Bielsa has also been suspended with Uruguay
Similarly, Diego Reyes, Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant, explained on Monday why it is not possible to be so strict. “During a match, you know that there are many activities that take place in that short period of time. There is a journey from the pitch to the locker room, which has to be taken into account and then there is a technical talk, there is a break for the players, there are different activities that are worked on during the break, during these 15 minutes and well, clearly there are things that happen inside the locker room or a player who changes clothes or someone who has to go to the bathroom,” he explained.
For Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, this situation means that the players are not getting the rest they should, because they are worried about not losing their coach. “We have someone who is watching the clock at half-time, but I think Conmebol has more important things to worry about than that,” said the Newcastle pivot in a press conference on the eve of the match against Colombia. “We don’t want to lose our coach. We don’t want to go over the clock. After 11 minutes we ran out onto the pitch so as not to lose anyone on this way,” said the midfielder.
An anguish shared by the Colombian coach, Néstor Lorenzo, who said in a press conference that they now live watching the clock at half-time. “In the locker room we are constantly waiting to leave on time, because we know that this sanction exists. We, the technical directors, do not have control over it, but we are the ones sanctioned if the team leaves late. It can happen to anyone, to any player who forgets something or goes to the bathroom. We hope it does not happen to us and I think it is a bit exaggerated, but well, other people in other institutions will have to say it,” he said.
Allison and Dorival, in favor but with nuances
Guimaraes’ opinion, however, contrasts with that of Liverpool goalkeeper and Brazilian captain Allison Becker, who does see the rule being followed as positive, albeit without rigidity. “That is beneficial. You have to stick to the schedule, but at the same time in football flexibility is positive. It can be improved in some points, but it doesn’t help much to come here to the press room and criticise or complain,” he said.
And Dorival Junior, the Brazilian national team coach, is somewhere in between. He admits that control is needed, but also that the distance to the changing rooms is too long. “A minimum organisation is necessary. Football needs organisation. Is it possible to make some adjustments? Yes, but the most important thing is to comply with and respect the schedules,” said the Canarinha coach.
Dorival also insisted that arriving and returning to the changing rooms is being “a little complicated” because “sometimes” the distances to the pitch “are very long,” although he pointed out that they are trying to comply with the rules.
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CONMEBOL denied to EFE on Monday that this was the reason for the delays. “Any large World Cup stadium or important competition stadium, due to the size of the field, has longer paths. I don’t think that is the reason for the delays we are having in the Copa América,” Frederico Nantes, Director of Competitions and Operations for CONMEBOL, told EFE.
