Coach Andres Bellon, left, and captain Jose Diaz, of Sevilla-Nervion, Spain's entry in the 2007 Laval World Cup of Soccer. "I will not bring the team back, not until there are changes to the way the tournament is run," coach Bellon told Courrier Laval Weekly News, following his team's expulsion from the championship game.
(Photo: Maya)
Photo:Rillart
Laval World Cup of Soccer ends in controversy
Italy beats USA 3-0 in 'beautiful game' after Spain is ousted from championship final for lack of ‘Fair Play’
Spain and Italy should have met in the championship match of the 2nd Annual Laval World Cup of Soccer but the ‘campeones’ from Sevilla knocked themselves out of the competition with what Albert Rillart, head of the organization holding the tournament, described as unforgivable poor sportsmanship.
“They simply tanked in their game with the Americans,” said a livid Rillart. “We deserved better, the Americans deserved better, and even the Spanish players deserved better, but it didn’t happen,” Rillart told Courrier Laval Weekly News minutes before the championship game, which in the end proved a ‘wonderful’ conclusion to this star-crossed affair.
What happened?
Once again, Shakespeare’s admonition that the ‘Problem, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars but in ourselves,’ is too true to dismiss, having raised itself to land the talented Spanish team into trouble.
The Spaniards, last year’s champions, were the architects of their own demise in a deliberate loss to the Capital Soccer Americans so that they wouldn’t have to play the strong Italian side in the championship game.
According to the rules of the tournament, Spain’s 6-3 loss to the USA would have led to a championship game rematch between the Spaniards and the Americans, a prospect that appealed to the Sevilla side since they thought themselves far superior to the boys from Burlington, a view shared by the Vermonters who decided they had no interest playing a team with such poor sportsmanship.
“It was a double-edged insult,” said Capital Soccer’s Brad Rawson. They played way beneath their strength to ensure they would play us in the final where, in their view, they could easily beat us. This kind of ‘Fair Play’ we don’t accept. It smacks of hypocrisy and total disregard for the reasons why we’re all here,” Rawson explained in an interview after his side had played a valiant game, falling to the more skilled Italians 3-0, but proud of their effort.
“You saw the game,” added teammate Tim Duvernoy. “It was a fair contest. We’re proud of our effort and we’re proud to have been on the same field as the Italian lads who played a clean and honest game, something the Spaniards failed to do and that’s why we refused to play them in the final.”
According to the rules?
Interviewd through interpreter Jose Buenacasa-Figuer, Spanish head coach Andres Bellon said he had nothing to reproach himself for, claiming rules were rules and that they simply took it easy against the Americans to save their best for the championship game. His view was shared by Jose Diaz, team captain, assistant coach and team physiotherapist.
“Look, this is not new. It’s done all the time. You set up tournament in this manner and you get this kind of result. We didn’t feel we had to break our backs against the Americans because we had already won a berth in the final. Would you have done any different? I think not. Besides, we had already beaten the Italians, so what did we have to prove?”
In the opinion of tournament officials (and the Americans who approached them with a request to disqualify the Spaniards for unfair play), they had to prove they were fair players and put out an honest effort against the US side, which they didn’t.
No choice
“It left us no choice,” said Mr. Rillart, the major force behind this international competition. “The decision was not an easy one, but it was right. How could we have looked ourselves in the eye if we hadn’t made it clear that we believe in the FIFA's Fair Play,” Mr. Rillart explained, the sadness in his voice betraying frustration and disappointment. “The decision of the organizing committee was unanimous. We saw no other way of setting the matter straight,” he emphasized.
Not totally insensitive to the self-generated exile of the Spaniards from the championship game, Mr. Rillart told Courrier Laval Weekly News the committee had awarded Sevilla the title of ‘Champions’ of the preliminary rounds of the competition, a reward which needless to say left the boys from Spain rather cold. They refused this consolation prize.
Asked if he would bring his team back for next year’s tournament if invited, coach Bellon uttered a firm NO!, “not until these people clean up their act and organize this tournament so that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.” Asked what changes he would implement to improve the event, Mr. Bellon pointed to a couple of things in particular: a better alignment of the teams, and the availability of better medical services. “There should be a doctor on the premises, not just a nurse,” the coach stated.
Next year
Albert Rillart told Courrier laval Weekly News that Mr. Bellon would not be welcomed back next year. "We have nothing against the team, but we do take exception to the constant problems Mr. Bellon has caused in the last two years," Mr. Rillart stated in a telephone interview, in which he also noted that there was a physiotherapist on site at all games. "Mr. Bellon was fully aware of the conditions of the tournament and the contract signed on behalf of Sevilla. The medical services were clearly indicated and teams were urged to make their own arrangements if they wanted services other than what we would provide," Mr. Rillart explained.
"And as to next year, Mr. Bellon need not worry about coming back since he will not be invited," Mr. Rillart specified, adding that the team is welcome but the coach is not.
On the upside, Mr. Bellon and other Sevilla officials had nothing but praise for the reception they received at Laval's Hampton Inn & Suites, especially from General Manager Rosa Lombardia.
Photo:Bellon
(Photo: Maya)
Photo:Rillart
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Photo: Belgium
(Photo: Maya)
Météo: Laval, 18 juillet 2008 / 19°C
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