Arturo Vidal (92 Viewers)
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SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal was among five players dropped by Chile coach Claudio Borghi on Wednesday after they returned to the team hotel late and drunk.
Borghi told a news conference the players missed their curfew by 45 minutes on Tuesday and were "in a state not adequate for the Chilean national team, for a professional player.''
Birmingham City winger Jean Beausejour, Atalanta defender Carlos Carmona, Palmeiras playmaker Jorge Valdivia and West Bromwich Albion defender Gonzalo Jara were the other players involved.
Borghi said he was "hurt'' by the players' behavior and will not consider them for the World Cup qualifiers away to Uruguay on Friday and at home to Paraguay four days later.
"It's hurtful, not just for me, but for the whole coaching staff,'' Borghi said, adding that the players had "broken their word.''
All five players are established members of the Chile team, though Jara is currently carrying an injury and Beausejour is suspended for the match with Uruguay.
Borghi said Vidal, a ?12.5 million ($17 million) signing for Serie A giant Juventus in July, would have played on Friday along with Valdivia.
Local media reports suggested the players were returning from Valdivia's daughter's baptism.
Borghi said the five players were "unable to defend themselves'' and "not in good condition'' when he went to their rooms to demand an explanation.
"If you ask me what they drank, I have no idea,'' Borghi said.
Chile lost its opening qualifier 4-1 away to Argentina last month before beating Peru 4-2 at home, with all five players involved in both matches.
They have now returned to their clubs and Borghi has called up five players from Chilean clubs as replacements.
Borghi said it would be up to the Chilean football federation to decide on any long-term punishment.
"I can't sanction the players,'' he said. "But I can leave them out of the national side.''
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/11/09/chile.drunk.players.ap/
Borghi told a news conference the players missed their curfew by 45 minutes on Tuesday and were "in a state not adequate for the Chilean national team, for a professional player.''
Birmingham City winger Jean Beausejour, Atalanta defender Carlos Carmona, Palmeiras playmaker Jorge Valdivia and West Bromwich Albion defender Gonzalo Jara were the other players involved.
Borghi said he was "hurt'' by the players' behavior and will not consider them for the World Cup qualifiers away to Uruguay on Friday and at home to Paraguay four days later.
"It's hurtful, not just for me, but for the whole coaching staff,'' Borghi said, adding that the players had "broken their word.''
All five players are established members of the Chile team, though Jara is currently carrying an injury and Beausejour is suspended for the match with Uruguay.
Borghi said Vidal, a ?12.5 million ($17 million) signing for Serie A giant Juventus in July, would have played on Friday along with Valdivia.
Local media reports suggested the players were returning from Valdivia's daughter's baptism.
Borghi said the five players were "unable to defend themselves'' and "not in good condition'' when he went to their rooms to demand an explanation.
"If you ask me what they drank, I have no idea,'' Borghi said.
Chile lost its opening qualifier 4-1 away to Argentina last month before beating Peru 4-2 at home, with all five players involved in both matches.
They have now returned to their clubs and Borghi has called up five players from Chilean clubs as replacements.
Borghi said it would be up to the Chilean football federation to decide on any long-term punishment.
"I can't sanction the players,'' he said. "But I can leave them out of the national side.''
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/11/09/chile.drunk.players.ap/
I was now listening some radio shows in my country - (Uruguay which is playing with Chile next Friday) and apparently the thing is, it is not the first time, that is why Borghi has made this decision.
During the last games and even during la Copa America rumors were all in the media, saying that the players were not behaving as professionals before Chile games. Borghi explanation is that he has not seen them with his own eyes, now that he has he believe he has to do what is needed to make the guys think.
Let´s see what happen next.
During the last games and even during la Copa America rumors were all in the media, saying that the players were not behaving as professionals before Chile games. Borghi explanation is that he has not seen them with his own eyes, now that he has he believe he has to do what is needed to make the guys think.
Let´s see what happen next.
