Ex-Fulham player Bryan Ruiz has been accused of a plot to deliberately losing matches to get their Costa Rica manager sacked.
The former Premier League attacking midfielder, and goalkeeper Keylor Navas are facing accusations of trying to get mess up games for Costa Rica in a bid to get then-coach Jorge Luis Pinto sacked.
The claims, which were first made back in 2018, have triggered a lawsuit from the players in a bid to clear their names. Those include Navas, Ruiz and a third player named Celso Borges who were aware of a clause in Pinto’s contract that meant he would lose his job should the team lose three matches in a row.
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It is alleged that the players complained of disagreements with the then-boss, known for his heavy-handed management style, and came together to conspire in getting him sacked in the wake of their impressive performance at the 2014 World Cup.
A former president of the Costa Rica Football Federation was in court mid-March 2021 as a witness for the defence, after Navas, Ruiz and Borges triggered a defamation lawsuit in an attempt to prove their innocence, asking for £43,400 in compensation.
Eduardo Li’s comments were disclosed by local media in Costa Rica, with the ex-president saying in court: ‘I remember that it was Keylor Navas who told me: We lose 3 games, there is a clause like this and like that.
‘Such was this issue that I made the decision not to renew Pinto.’
As mentioned, Li revealed that the clause stated that three consecutive defeats for the team meant the manager could automatically see his contract terminated.
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The trial began Friday the 12th of March with Navas making a statement on a video link from Paris, where he now plays for PSG.
According to local reports, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper admitted he was ‘very surprised’ at the claims, insisting he did not plan to deliberately lose matches.
‘It is something that has not left our mouths nor will it ever happen, because we have been professional footballers for many years, where we have earned an honour and prestige,’ he said, according to newspaper outlet Diario Extra.
The time-frame of the allegations is said to be in the latter half of 2014, when Costa Rica reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup and saw the end of Pinto’s tenure in charge of the team.
At the tournament, Costa Rica were in a group with England, Italy and Uruguay, eventually finishing top while the Three Lions were bottom.
After progressing from the group stages, they beat Greece on penalties, though narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals following a shoot-out defeat by the Netherlands.
Navas says of the claims: ‘It is something that has not left our mouths nor will it ever happen.’
Li said at the trial that the players were told of the federation’s intention to renew Pinto’s contract, and the ex-president said that only Navas mentioned the possibility of losing matches.
He added that Ruiz threatened the quit the national team if Pinto remained in charge. The saga goes on.
Fans reacted after seeing that the ex-Fulham player has been accused of a plot to deliberately losing matches to get their Costa Rica manager sacked…
Stephen Murray: How could Ruiz do that. It is how he normally plays… Shite
Andy Robbins: Costa Rica aren’t good enough to throw matches 😂 “Right this week lads we’ve got Brazil then Argentina, if we lose both of those that’ll surely get the manager sacked” 😂😂😂
Tom Conroy: Feel sorry for the bloke, hes so shit hes being accused of throwing matches 😆
Ben Smart: The Costa Rican FA grew suspicious when Ruiz attempted to play a pass with his right foot.
RUIZ’S CAREER:
Senior career
2003–2006 – Alajuelense – 86 games (24 goals)
2006–2009 – Gent – 79 games (26 goals)
2009–2011 – Twente – 65 games (35 goals)
2011–2015 – Fulham – 97 games (12 goals)
2014 → PSV (loan) – 14 games (5 goals)
2015–2018 – Sporting CP – 86 games (12 goals)
2018–2020 – Santos – 12 games (0 goals)
2020– Alajuelense – 29 games (5 goals)
National team
2005– Costa Rica 125 games (26 goals)
Bryan Ruiz – putting the ‘beautiful’ in the beautiful game… #GoalOfTheDay @FulhamFC pic.twitter.com/YDDZ0PrbeJ
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 24, 2017
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