ZURICH — FIFA has dismissed Costa Rica’s protest against losing 1-0 to the United States in World Cup qualifying match played in a snowstorm because team captain Bryan Ruiz did not complain to the referee during the match.
FIFA says the Costa Rican football association failed to meet the requirements of filing a valid protest of Friday’s match in Commerce City, Colorado.
In a statement published Tuesday, FIFA refers to a clause in its 2014 World Cup Regulations.
It states that when a field becomes unplayable during a match, the protesting team’s captain “shall immediately lodge a protest with the referee in the presence of the captain of the opposing team.”
FIFA says “therefore, the result of the match played on March 22 stands and is considered as valid.”
