Would It Be Fair?

Okay, so, here’s the obligatory cliche: All’s fair in love and war.

Except this is not war.

And, although I love soccer, I don’t think that its the kind of love the cliche means.

If the US:
- had the opportunity to participate;
- had to let the organizers know by a certain deadline;
- decided NOT to participate; and;
- the deadline has passed,

then, I say “Too bad, US.” Poor planning on our part shouldn’t hurt the Ticos.

O’Neil for US Manager!

Posted from  United States

If the COPA America has a special provision for the US’s entry, then Costa Rica would have known about the clause. The provision also gives an incentive to field a strong team at the Gold Cup (helping Concacaf)

I say go for it if its still possible under the provision.

A little bad blood with Costa Rica may juice up the rivalry as well….

Posted from  Dominican Republic

ETucker,

My only objection to your position is that if there is a deadline for letting organizers know the US would take part, then the US should abide by the deadline.

If there was not deadline; or if the deadline has not yet passed, then all bets are off.

If, indeed, it is still possible under the terms agreed to under the provisions, then, yeah, let’s go for it.

Until I hear otherwise, I will assume (yes, I know all about assuming) that there was a deadline, and the deadline has indeed passed.

Costa Rica probably did know of the special provision; but, when the US backed out of the provision, Costa Rica wanted to play, and the organizers agreed.

If we mess up our scheduling, why should Costa Rica pay?

Posted from  United States

why cannot both participate? not fair to CR, or is it?

Posted from  United States

I’m confused. Either there is a deadline, or there is not.

If there is a deadline, and it has passed, then how does is US participation still a possibiity? Doesn’t that negate the deadline?

If there is no deadline, or it has not passed, and Costa Rica and CONMEBOL merely have some sort of agreement with CR for their participation, then there should not be a problem if we decide to participate.

If there was a “deadline,” of sorts, but our participation is still possible, that would seem to indicate some sort of institutional process by which US participation is still possible. Is that is the case, then it would be perfectly legitimate for us to play in the Copa America. To be “unfair” would be to go outside the established rules or procedures. It might be somewhat rude, but I don’t think it would be ethically unsound.

Posted from  United States

Bad karma to bump them out, and lord knows the US could stand to stop generating bad karma about now.

so the question was “would it be fair?”

so my question is would it be fair to put seed Mexico and not the US even if the US fisnished first in their qualifying region over mexico? would it be “fair” if the us was put in a group with Ghana, Italy, and the czech while mexico gets Portugal, iran and angola.

I could care less about costa rica and I don’t think its bad karma with the reason being…would any country hesitate to bump us out?

Posted from  United States

Let’s make the USA part of Europe and then they can kick Italia’s a$$es… i would enjoy that. California alone is bigger than any Euro country… perhaps we should have state leagues .. CA vs NY etc. Good way to discover new talent.. HI and AK can play on one team..

Posted from  United States

Cajun Nick: good point about the deadline. If it’s already passed, then we definitely should not/could not do it.

Stuart and Matt both bring up good points. On the one hand, it would be bad for the US image (bad karma). On the other hand, have other countries done similar things? I tried some google research, but no results.

If it’s never been done before….I say let’s not be the first and just schedule quality friendlies in neutral venues (Like the Argentina-England friendly last fall)

Posted from  Dominican Republic

hmmn, the US might be able to offer some incentive to Costa Rica to take their spot, not sure what though other than cash which would be a bit dodgy.

Having both compete is not impossible, presently the tournament has 12 teams with 3 groups of 4 teams, the top 2 teams from each group + the two ‘best’ 3rd place teams also pass to give the quarter finalists. so that gives 18 group phase games, with each team playing 3.
If there were 13 teams in the comp, (lucky number eh?) then you could have 3 groups of 3 teams, and one group of 4 teams with the top 2 from each group going through, this would give 18 group phase games also, but 9 teams would only play 2 group phase games - in particular 3 teams would play only those 2 games before being sent home.

Actually some of the previous world cups were organised with similarly odd structure, so its not unprecedented…

Posted from  Australia

PS thanks for the ref Daryl, and just to get in before someone suggests it: no I didn’t write the wiki article

Posted from  Australia

bhjfbjkbu

play for it, that’s what i say. hahaha.

Posted from  Philippines

you know what karl, it may be funny, but I think that that would be a great idea!!! =) Smart!

Posted from  Canada