HexagonalBlog

Metapán will play in El Salvador after all

Two days after Isidro Metapán announced that they would play their home leg of the Champions League preliminary round in Guatemala, the club announced that they would indeed play in the Cuscatlán stadium after all.  The announcement comes after an agreement between CONCACAF and EDESSA over the rental fees of the stadium.  Although the article doesn't say so, my guess is that CONCACAF decided to pay the fee for the club.

So now Metapán will play a true home match, and they will charge their fans a dollar in an attempt to fill the stadium.  Does that pricing plan have CONCACAF approval?

Metapán moves CCL match to Guatemala

Last night I reported that Isidro Metapán was considering a withdrawal from the Champions League due to a dispute over the fees to use the Cuscatlán stadium.  Today the club president announced that Metapán would play their home leg of the preliminary round tie at La Pedrera stadium in Guatemala City, which is the second largest stadium in Guatemala after Mateo Flores.  Including the rental fee and travel expenses the club would pay US$13,000 less than they would have paid if they played in Cuscatlán, but in the end the club will be hard pressed to make any profit from their match.  The savings won't be passed on to their fans, who will have to find a way to travel to Guatemala.

Firpo is also in the same difficulty with the use of Cuscatlán, and their situation is more serious because they have to play three home matches in the group stage.

In reading the articles, it was not made clear to me why Metapán opted out of playing at their home stadium in the first place.   If it wasn't possible to many any improvements to the stadium to meet CCL requirements, the articles didn't mention that.  Rather it seemed that the club directors wanted to make a quick buck by hosting the match at the largest stadium in El Salvador, in which case CONCACAF should mandate that they play at their home stadium anyway. 

Could Metapán drop out of CCL?

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.

Profiles of Champions League participants

The official CONCACAF website has been posting profiles of this year's Champions League participants since last week.  The profiles are decent and it looks like they're put some time in writing them.  One critique is that there's not a hyperlink to the club's official website, even though the website URL is highlighted in blue.  But anyway, check them out.

ONE MORE THING, CONCACAF:  On the 'Qualified Teams' page, it would be nice to have a link from each of the clubs to their profiles.  Just an idea.

CCL Regulations Document: Penalties

This is a continuation of my series on the CONCACAF Champions League Rules and Regulations document, focusing on the disciplinary regulations and the penalties that can be applied to participating clubs and players.  These clauses can be found in Sections 3, 5, 6, 12, and 13.

If a team withdraws from the CCL by failing to participate in any match, that side will incur the following penalties, increasing in severity with the stage at which the withdrawal occurs (Sect. 3.11, 3.16):

Competition Stage	Penalty
Before Preliminary Round draw	US$5,000 + entry fees
After Preliminary Round draw, but before matches are played	US$7,500 + entry fees
Preliminary Round	US$10,000 + entry fees
Group Stage	US$15,000 + entry fees
Knockout rounds	US$20,000 + entry fees
FIFA Club World Cup	US$100,000 + FIFA fines

In addition, the withdrawn club has to reimburse the following organizations for expenses incurred, damages, and losses stemming from withdrawal (Sect. 3.14):

• The local organizing committee
• The opposing club (or clubs in the Group Stage)
• CONCACAF

And to top it off, the withdrawn club is barred from CONCACAF club competitions for the next two years that it is eligible (Sect. 6.7).

A team can incur a 0-3 penalty result for the following:

• Failing to appear at, start, or finish a match (Sect. 3.12)
• Playing a match with an ineligible player (Sect. 5.12)

If the match is abandoned, and the other team is winning by more than three goals, that result will stand instead.

The following are the penalties for players:

• Sent off in the field of play: one-match suspension, valid from the next CONCACAF club match
• Two yellow cards in separate matches: suspension from the following CCL match (the caution slate is wiped clean at the end of the Group Stage)
• Un-served penalties for red cards or yellow card accumulations are carried over to the following CCL season

There are also penalties for other infractions by players and/or club officials against the regulations, for example

• Doping (Sect. 7.1)
• Unsporting behavior (Sect. 6.2)
• Disparaging remarks about the CCL (Sect. 13.5)

There is a CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee in place to hear disciplinary cases and consider appeals, but the following decisions are not subject to appeal:

• Cautions and censures
• Suspensions of up to two matches, or up to two months
• Fines to players and club officials less than US$10,000
• Fines to national associations less than US$30,000

Protests must be submitted in writing (along with a US$500 payment to CONCACAF) under the proper time windows for the following type of protest:

• Player eligibility - no later than (NLT) 2 hours after the match conclusion
• Match incidents - immediately after the incident by the team captain, in writing to the Match Commissioner NLT 2 hours after match conclusion
• Playing surface/equipment - NLT start of match by team official

The referee's decision on the field is considered as final.

The losing party of the protest may have to pay the appeal fees, and once the champion of the CCL has been named, all existing protests are null and void.

This concludes my look at the disciplinary regulations in the CONCACAF Champions League, and this also concludes my series on the regulations document.  In a future post I'd like to look at how CONCACAF measures up -- on paper -- to the other Champions League competitions in the other confederations.

CCL Regulations Document: The Stadiums

This is the fourth post in a series on the Champions League Rules and Regulations document, and now I focus on the clauses with respect to the stadiums that will host CCL matches.  These regulations can be found in Section 10.

• Perhaps the most important regulation is the all-seater requirement (Sect. 10.4).  All standing areas must be kept vacant. 
• The stadium must be the same one used by the home team for its domestic league games (Sect. 10.2a), and it must meet minimum FIFA requirements for international matches.
• The stadium must be floodlit with even lighting of at least 800 Lux (Sect. 10.6a), and an emergency power generation system (Sect. 10.6b).
• Also, the stadium must have the following facilities (Sect. 10.7):
  • Separate locker rooms for both teams and the match officials, meeting international standards in terms of size, quality, and amenities.
  • Controlled areas for post-match interview areas (mixed zone).
  • Room for post-match press conference.
  • At least 2 enclosed booths for radio/TV (preferably 2 booths for TV / 4 booths for radio)
  • Controlled seating for media personnel:
    • At least 50 for Preliminary Round/Group Stage games
    • At least 80 for Knockout Round games
  • A fully operational and audible public address system
• A security plan for the safety of the attendees, and to manage the controlled areas in and around the stadium (Sect. 10.9).
• If it does not meet those requirements, then the club must make the modifications at its expense to bring the stadium up to the minimum criteria.
• If that's still not possible "after exhausting all reasonable efforts" (Sect. 10.2c), there are two options, subject to CONCACAF approval:
  • A stadium in the same country
  • A stadium in the same region, but not in the home country of the opposing team
• If a stadium has artificial turf, the opposing team is entitled to at least two training sessions prior to the match (Sect. 10.5b).  Otherwise, the opposing team must be allowed to train in the stadium for one hour either the day before or the morning of the match (Sect. 10.3b).
• If the match is interrupted due to weather or other events beyond the control of the host team, the match is replayed the following day (score starting from 0-0), with provisions for a third replay if required by weather (Sect. 10.5f).

The next part of this series will focus on the disciplinary issues with regard to the players and clubs.

CCL Regulations Document: CONCACAF's Entitlements

I'm continuing a look at the Champions League R&R document, focusing now on the entitlements that CONCACAF is demanding.  These can be found in throughout the document, but predominately in Sections 4, 10, and 12.

With regard to the competition, CONCACAF is entitled to:

• Local transportation, hotel rooms and meals of the designated CONCACAF match officials and other CONCACAF officials, paid for by the host team and reimbursed by CONCACAF (Sect 4.4 and 4.7c-d)
• An office at or near the stadium with a fax machine for the Match Commissioner's use (Sect. 4.7g)
• Be added, along with the CCL marketing partners, as parties to the liability insurance policy for the stadium in which CCL matches are to be held (Sect. 4.7f)
• Control of the stadium at least 48 hours before the match in order to conduct inspections and install CCL signage
• Total control within the stadium of (Sect. 10.8c-e, Sect. 12.15-16):
  • Any video/message boards
  • Public-address announcer
  • Scoreboard operator
• The following items at the stadium, for free (Sect 12.12):
  • 4 suites
  • Maximum 600 standard category tickets
  • Maximum 50 best category tickets
  • A number of parking spaces to be determined
• If available, maximum of 500 tickets of any category, discounted 20% (Sect. 12.13)
• At least 40000 ft² (3700 m²) of space near the stadium for promotional/sponsorship displays (Sect. 12.14)

The next part of this series will focus on the stadium regulations.  I think the most important regulation will be the all-seater requirement.

UPDATE:  In the comments, Chuck asked just what is defined as a 'dignitary' whose accommodations the host club is responsible for.  I should be careful because the regulations document didn't use the word 'dignitary' but rather 'designee'; essentially, it includes match officials and other designated CONCACAF officials, up to and including Jack Warner himself.  At any rate, CONCACAF will reimburse the home club for expenses related to accommodating CONCACAF officials (Sect. 4.4), so there is a disincentive against bringing too many designees.  I've edited the text above.

CCL Regulations Document: The Finances

I continue my summary of the Champions League R&R document by looking at the financial regulations, found in Sections 4 and 12. 

• Basically, CONCACAF controls ALL revenue streams and intellectual property associated with the CCL (Sect. 4.14, 12.1).   That includes, but is not limited to, advertising, sponsorship, merchandising and broadcast revenues.  
• CONCACAF will control the ticket designs, the merchandising of products with the CCL logo, and the publishing of match programs (Sect. 12.5-12.8).  Basically, they, and not the individual clubs, will control everything that is published, communicated, or displayed in any stadium where a CCL match is being played. 
• There will be a 'Sponsor Logo Bar' - the collection of official sponsors for the Champions League -- and only those sponsors will be displayed in the advertising signage in the stadium and in the promotional materials associated with the match.
• The home team receives all of the gate receipts (minus CONCACAF's 5% cut) and is reimbursed for costs incurred by shuttling CONCACAF referees and officials around (Sect. 4.4, 4.9, 4.12).  
• Teams have to submit for pre-approval pricing plans for CCL matches within 14 days of the match schedule being released (Sect. 4.10).
• No more free tickets to pack the stadium -- now home teams will have to get approved any plan to give away more than 1500 complimentary tickets (Sect. 4.11).
• Also, no promotional materials will be handed out to fans entering the stadium (Sect. 12.16), such as signs, shakers, or thundersticks. I especially liked the 'no-thundersticks' rule.
• The away team is partially reimbursed for travel (Sect. 4.4).  This is a difference from the Champions' Cup, where the away team was wholly responsible for its travel expenses, making participation in the Cup very expensive for MLS and Caribbean clubs.
• There are no clauses on how the revenues generated by the CCL are distributed to the participating clubs and National/Regional Associations.  For example, UEFA distributes 75% of the Champions League revenues to the clubs and national associations, and retains the rest.  That issue of revenue distribution needs to be resolved quickly; if the only money that Champions League teams will receive are home gates plus some travel reimbursement, CONCACAF is wasting everyone's time.

The next part of this series will go into what CONCACAF gets for free from the clubs in this competition.  And the answer is, "a lot".

CCL Regulations Document: The Competition

I've read the Rules and Regulations document for the Champions League a couple of times since they were released on Monday.  They answer some questions but leave some critical issues unresolved.   It's going to take several posts to summarize the competition and state all of the comments that I want to make. 

One important disclaimer is that I AM NOT A LAWYER.  I say that because there are some terms and clauses in the R&R document that have raised questions in my mind, and I am not certain how they could be interpreted.  I will back-reference to the document and I invite comments.

Anyway, here are some new details about the competition that haven't been revealed before:

• Teams must submit a 30-man roster at two opportunities: at the start of the Champions League season, and between the end of the Group Stage and the start of the knockout rounds.  Once someone is on the roster list, they cannot be removed, and they're cup-tied as well.
• From that 30-man roster, a 23-man squad list must be released 48 hours before kickoff, and there can only be a maximum of seven substitutes on the bench.
• All games will be played at night, at times/dates fixed by CONCACAF.
• Away goals count in the knockout rounds, unless the series goes to extra time.
• In the group stage, ties on points are resolved:
  • Points won in head-to-head results
  • Goal difference in head-to-head results
  • Away goals in head-to-head results
  • Goal difference in all group matches
  • Away goals in all group matches
  • Draw lots
• After the group stage, there will be a second draw for the knockout rounds with the complete bracket announced at that time.
• Group winners host the second leg of their quarterfinal round series.
• Teams from the same country are NOT kept apart after the group stage.
• The winner of the Champions League does NOT get automatic entry to next year's competition.  (Pachuca, last season's Champions' Cup winner, didn't qualify as champions or runners-up, so they won't be participating.)

My next post on the R&R document will discuss the financial regulations.  To give a brief summary, CONCACAF controls all revenue streams associated with the CCL.  The home team receives all of the gate receipts (minus CONCACAF's 5% cut) and is reimbursed for costs incurred by shuttling CONCACAF referees and officials around.  The away team is partially reimbursed for travel.

UPDATE (7/31): I'm looking through my posts on the CCL Regulations and I didn't mention refereeing (Section 14).  It didn't quite fit into the other posts, and there's not enough material to merit its own post, so I'll just place it here:

• For each match, there are two referees and two assistant referees, appointed by the CONCACAF Referees' Committee.
• The refereeing crew must be from a country whose club is not in the same group as the match being played (Sect. 14.2).  So assuming that all four of the American and Mexican teams in the preliminary round advance, there will be only be referees from Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean in the Group Stage.  
• The fourth official, however, can be selected from any country, including that of the host team (Sect. 14.3). 

The Champions League field is complete

The last entrant to the CONCACAF Champions League is complete, as Montreal Impact held Toronto FC to a 1-1 draw to win the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.  Rohan Ricketts opened the scoring for TFC after 16 minutes, but Ricardo Brown equalized for Montreal ten minutes later.  The Impact had to soak up a lot of pressure from the MLS side but with the help of Matt Jordan in goal obtained the golden point to advance to CONCACAF's highest club competition.  What a huge victory for Montreal, which salvages a poor season, and what a moment for the USL who now have two teams in the Champions League.

Montreal will now play Real Estelí over two legs in late August and early September for a spot in the group stage.