Verdes Pulls Out But Faces No Penalties

Sergio Chuc

According to President Sergio Chuc, of the Football Federation of Belize, the players, as well as the coaching staff of Verdes FC may have contracted the virus in Cancun and the initial results of tests conducted there, may have been false negatives.  Belize’s withdrawal due to COVID-19 will not cost the teams any penalties going forward.

Sergio Chuc, President, Football Federation of Belize

“All indications would be that they contracted it in Mexico because it was almost three weeks after it was detected on the first two players, so more than likely if one of them would have taken it from Belize…  It’s difficult because there was no test done on them.  The first test was done on Saturday in Panama and there is where two of them tested positive.  Actually, the first test was done before leaving Cancun but they all showed negative.  In Panama is where the first two tested positive.”

Isani Cayetano

“This was a random test that was conducted or was this the exhibition of symptoms of COVID-19 that prompted this test?”

Sergio Chuc

“No, it is a test that all people who are entering Panama have to do.  Because they had to overnight in Panama, everyone passing through would have to do that test and that was when it was detected.  I can safely say right now that out of the ten members of the delegation, not even one is showing any symptoms, they are asymptomatic.  As a matter of fact, I was speaking to one of the coaches this morning and I also spoke to a player who is in Santo Domingo and they were actually exercising in their room.  They were in complete and excellent health, they are very healthy.  They are very happy, they are quite comfortable but unfortunately they will have to stay and quarantine.”

Isani Cayetano

“What does this now mean for Belize’s participation in the Scotiabank Tournament?”

Sergio Chuc

“Well, at this point Verdes has made a decision to withdraw, as had been advised by CONCACAF.  If they would withdraw they would be no penalties because the game was, you could call it, force majeure, it was beyond their control so they couldn’t play.  That was what the medical staff from CONCACAF advised.  If they would have stayed and insisted that they wanted to play the game in ten days after they did their quarantine, the whole team then, and they were unable to play the game then there would have been penalties after that.”