From Prensa Gráfica comes reports that Isidro Metapán is considering dropping out of the CONCACAF Champions League because of conflicts with the sporting organizations in El Salvador (EDESSA) over the use of the Cuscatlán stadium for matches. This is assuming that their regular home stadium (the Jorge Calero Suaréz stadium in Metapán) doesn't meet CCL requirements and can't meet them in time. According to the team's official website, the operators of the Cuscatlán are charging Metapán US$20,000 to use the stadium, which the club is balking at, and understandably so because it's a huge sum of money that won't be recouped by ticket sales. If they do decide to withdraw from the tournament, they would have to pay CONCACAF US$7500 and they would be barred from the Champions League for two years. Depending on how the tournament takes off, that could be a big financial blow for them.
I had said before about how the creation of the Champions League represented a huge step for CONCACAF as it would force them to achieve a level of planning, execution, and organization never seen before at the federation. That statement should apply to the clubs and national associations in the region as well.
UPDATE: The link at La Prensa Gráfica isn't working, but their website is saying that Firpo may pull out of the CCL because of a similar dispute with EDESSA.
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