CFU's Steve Harvey moment
By Neto Baptiste (Antigua Observer)
The Antigua & Barbuda senior national football team was in and then out of the three-team playoff round-robin to determine the country advancing from the ongoing Caribbean Cup and into next July’s Gold Cup in the United States of America (USA).
This after the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), early Monday morning, name Antigua & Barbuda alongside Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname as the three teams advancing to the playoff round.
That changed just hours later with Antigua & Barbuda being replaced by Haiti the “best overall second place finisher” to challenge Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname.
The incident bore similarities to when Hollywood star Steve Harvey accidentally declared Miss Colombia the winner of Miss Universe when she was, in fact, the first runner-up to Miss Philippines.
General Secretary of the CFU, Neil Cochrane, said he has asked that the matter be reviewed.
“What I have asked for is an independent review because Antigua has lodged an official — I don’t want to say complaint — but they are also questioning the interpretation of the rule. They are saying that the original interpretation is the appropriate interpretation based upon where we are and the circumstances prescribed in the rules and regulations,” he said.
Reports are that the Antigua & Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) has filed an official protest, asking that the format used be revisited. CONCACAF has reportedly agreed and is putting together a committee to look into the matter and make a ruling.
Cochrane’s request of the CFU would have of a similar nature.
“I am going to ask my head of competitions to ask the head of competitions for CONCACAF to make a ruling on that and then we just go from there because I would not want to, based upon where I am from, I am not going to make such a decision, I will make that decision come from the head of competition from CONCACAF,” he said.
Reports are that the process could take up to a week before it’s completed.
The winner from the playoff round of the CFU competition, will challenge the fifth placed UNCAF (La Unión Centroamericana de Fútbol) team for the coveted Golf Cup spot.