2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup explained

Tourney Name:CONCACAF Gold Cup
Year:2015
Other Titles:Coupe d'Or CONCACAF 2015
Size:250px
Country:Canada
Country2:United States
Dates:July 7–26
Num Teams:12
Confederations:1
Venues:14
Cities:14
Champion:MEX
Count:7
Second:JAM
Third:PAN
Fourth:USA
Matches:26
Goals:62
Top Scorer: Clint Dempsey
(7 goals)
Player: Andrés Guardado
Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan
Young Player: Jesús Corona
Prevseason:2013
Nextseason:2017

The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 13th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and the 23rd CONCACAF regional championship overall in the organization's fifty-four years of existence. It was held in the United States, with two matches being played in Canada, marking the first time the CONCACAF Gold Cup was played in that country.[1]

Mexico won the competition after surviving both the quarter-finals and semi-finals in controversial circumstances,[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] defeating Jamaica—the first Caribbean nation to reach such a stage—in the final.[7] Of the co-hosts, Canada was eliminated in the group stage, while the United States, the defending champions, lost in the semi-finals to Jamaica. The competition included a third place match for the first time since 2003,[8] in which Panama defeated the United States.

Venues

A total of 14 venues were used for the tournament. CONCACAF announced the host cities and venues for the tournament on December 16, 2014.[1] Apart from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia which hosted the final and PPL Park in Chester which hosted the third place match (both located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area), the other 12 venues hosted two matches. The assignment of matches for the knockout round and the awarding of the final were announced on March 12, 2015.[9]

East RutherfordCharlotteAtlantaBaltimorePhiladelphia
MetLife StadiumBank of America StadiumGeorgia DomeM&T Bank StadiumLincoln Financial Field
Capacity: 82,566Capacity: 74,455Capacity: 74,228Capacity: 71,008Capacity: 69,176
Quarter-finalsGroup CSemi-finalsQuarter-finalsFinal
FoxboroughChicago
Gillette StadiumSoldier Field
Capacity: 68,756Capacity: 63,500
Group AGroup C
GlendaleCarson, California
University of Phoenix StadiumStubHub Center
Capacity: 63,400Capacity: 30,510
Group CGroup B
HoustonTorontoFriscoChester, PennsylvaniaKansas City
BBVA Compass StadiumBMO FieldToyota StadiumPPL ParkSporting Park
Capacity: 22,039Capacity: 30,991Capacity: 20,500Capacity: 18,500Capacity: 18,467
Group BGroup BGroup A3rd Place MatchGroup A

Teams

Qualification

A total of 12 teams qualified for the tournament. Three berths were allocated to North America, four to Central America, and four to the Caribbean. For the first time, the two overall fifth-placed teams of the Caribbean zone and the Central American zone competed for the final berth of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Previously, five berths were allocated to Central America and four were allocated to the Caribbean.[10]

style=Teamstyle=Qualificationstyle=Appearancesstyle=Last appearancestyle=Previous best performancestyle=FIFA Ranking
North American zone
align=left (TH)Automatic13th2013Champions (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013)27
align=left Automatic13th2013Champions (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011)23
align=left Automatic12th2013Champions (2000)109
Central American zone qualified through the 2014 Copa Centroamericana
align=left Winners12th2013Runners-up (2002)14
align=left Runners-up10th2011Fourth place (1996)93
align=left Third place7th2013Runners-up (2005, 2013)54
align=left Fourth place9th2013Quarterfinals (2002, 2003, 2011, 2013)89
Caribbean zone qualified through the 2014 Caribbean Cup
align=left Winners9th2011Third place (1993)65
align=left Runners-up9th2013Third place (2000)67
align=left Third place6th2013Quarterfinals (2002, 2009)76
align=left Fourth place8th2013Quarterfinals (2003, 2013)107
Play-off winner between Caribbean zone fifth place and Central American zone fifth place
align=left Play-off12th2013Runners-up (1991)75
Bold indicates that the corresponding team was hosting the event.

Squads

See main article: 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup squads.

An initial provisional list of 35 players had to be submitted to CONCACAF before June 7, 2015. A final list containing 23 players was to have been submitted for June 27, 2015. Three of the players named in the final list had to be goalkeepers.[11] The players named in the final list had to wear shirts numbered 1 to 23, with number 1 reserved for a goalkeeper.

Teams qualifying for the quarter-final stage were permitted to replace up to six players. The replacements had to have been named on the provisional list and would be given a shirt numbered between 24 and 29.

An injured player from the final list could be replaced by another from provisional list 24 hours before his national team's first game.

Draw

The seeded teams which headed up each group was announced on December 16, 2014: United States (Group A), Costa Rica (Group B), and Mexico (Group C).[1] Seeded teams were determined based on November 27, 2014 FIFA rankings (shown in brackets).[12]

The composition of the groups and the schedule of the tournament were announced by CONCACAF on March 12, 2015.[9]

Match officials

Referees
Assistant referees

Group stage

The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams qualified for the quarter-finals. All match times listed are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Tiebreakers

The ranking of each team in each group was determined as follows:

  1. Greatest number of points obtained in group matches
  2. Goal difference in all group matches
  3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
  4. Greatest number of points obtained in group matches between the teams concerned;
  5. Drawing of lots by the Gold Cup Committee.[11]

Group A

See main article: article and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A.

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Group B

See main article: article and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group B.

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Group C

See main article: article and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C.

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Ranking of third-placed teams

Knockout stage

See main article: 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup knockout stage.

Quarter-finals

------------

Semi-finals

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Final

See main article: 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final.

Statistics

Goalscorers

Awards

The following Gold Cup awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament: the Golden Boot (top scorer), Golden Ball (best overall player) and Golden Glove (best goalkeeper).[13] [14] [15] [16]

scope=col style="background-color: gold" Golden Ball
Andrés Guardado
scope=col style="background-color: gold" Golden Boot
Clint Dempsey
7 goals
Golden Glove
Brad Guzan
Young Player Award
Jesús Manuel Corona
Fair Play Trophy

Prize money

The total amount of prize money offered by CONCACAF for the tournament is US$2.75 million, with $1 million being the top prize.[17] Listed below is a breakdown of how the total amount is to be distributed:

  • $100k – To each team eliminated in the group stage (4 teams)
  • $125k – To each team eliminated in the quarter-finals (4 teams)
  • $150k – Fourth placed team
  • $200k – Third placed team
  • $500k – Runners-up
  • $1 mil – Winners

Qualification for international tournaments

The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup was used for qualification for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, to be played in Russia, and the Copa América Centenario, to be played in the United States in 2016.

FIFA Confederations Cup

As champions of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Mexico qualified for a one-off play-off match against the United States, the champion of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, to decide which team will represent CONCACAF in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Mexico won the match 3-2 after extra time.[18]

Copa América Centenario

See main article: Copa América Centenario qualifying play-offs.

In addition, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Cuba, being the top four teams in the tournament not already qualified, qualified for play-offs which determined the remaining two teams to participate in the Copa América Centenario in 2016.[19] The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica (winners of the 2014 Copa Centroamericana), and Jamaica (winners of the 2014 Caribbean Cup) had already qualified before the tournament, with Panama and Haiti rounding out the six representatives CONCACAF sent to the Copa América Centenario following their play-off victories over Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.

Marketing

Broadcasting rights

Multiple officials of Traffic Sports were identified in the 2015 FIFA corruption case, which alleged that bribes related to the 2015 Gold Cup amounted to two-thirds of the cost of staging the tournament.[20]

Worldwide TV broadcasting rights[21]

Country/RegionBroadcasterNotes
Setanta Sports
ESPN Azerbaijan
SporTV
Sportsnet World, Sportsnet 360, Univision CanadaSimsub via Fox
LeTV
Repretel, Teletica
Telecorporacion Salvadoreña
Ma Chaîne Sport (MCS)
Canal 3 and Canal 7
Televicentro
iCable
Indonesia[22]
Latin AmericaGol TV
Astro
Televisa, TV Azteca
Middle East and North AfricaAbu Dhabi Sports Channel
Fox Sports
TV Nacional de Panamá, Medcom
Sport TV
Starhub
beIN Sports, Mediapro
Sub-Saharan AfricaSupersport
Sportcast
Grammy

BT Sport,[23] Bet365 (online streaming)
Fox (English)
Univision (Spanish)

Symbols

Music

"You Are Unstoppable" by Austrian singer Conchita Wurst was the official anthem for the tournament.[24]

"All the Way" by Reykon featuring Bebe Rexha was used for Univision's coverage of the tournament.[25]

Awolnation's "I Am" was used for Fox's coverage.

Controversies

Jamaican players' strike

On July 6, the Jamaica national football team refused to attend a 7pm practice session at the StubHub Center because of a strike over bonus fees.[26] The next day, Jamaica Football Federation president Horace Burrell announced the situation had been "settled" and thanked the players for backing down.[27]

Cuban defections

Cuban attacker Keiler García defected to the United States in Chicago on July 8, the day before his team's opening game against Mexico at Soldier Field. He did not show up for the team breakfast in the hotel and was absent from the subsequent training session.[28] Because of problems obtaining US visas for players and staff, and the defection of García, Cuba only had 16 players available for the opening game against Mexico.[29] Arael Argüellez also defected in Chicago, after being visited in the hotel by friends. He failed to turn up for the national team's flight to Phoenix to Cuba's second match, against Trinidad and Tobago.[30]

On July 14, Darío Suárez did not return from his trip to a supermarket prior to the match against Guatemala in Charlotte.[31] Later the same day, midfielder Ariel Martínez was reported in tears on the bus returning to the hotel following the 1–0 victory over Guatemala to qualify for the quarter-final stage. Upon arrival, he exited the bus, said goodbye to the coach and then ran off into the night.[32]

Cuban US visa issues

Cuba's opening game against Mexico was affected by United States visa issues. The head coach Raúl González Triana and six players (Adrián Diz, Arichel Hernandez, Daniel Luis, Andy Vaquero, Maikel Reyes and Sandy Sánchez) were unable to enter the United States before the match against Mexico which took place on the third day of the competition. They had all recently been involved in the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship qualification tournament in Antigua and Barbuda and it had caused some administration issues.

Arichel Hernández did not enter the United States at all because of visa problems.[33]

Controversial refereeing

During the quarter-final match between Mexico and Costa Rica, Walter López's assistant referee Eric Boria marked a penalty for Mexico, in the last minute of stoppage time in the second half of extra time, for a push by Costa Rican defender Roy Miller on Oribe Peralta. Mexico's Andrés Guardado scored the penalty, eliminating Costa Rica.[34] Daniel Jiménez of La Nación described the elimination as "a theft",[35] although Costa Rica's coach defended the call saying "he [the referee] is human. He saw something in the area and that's why he called the penalty."[36] Miller himself claimed Peralta's reaction was "exaggerated" and that there had only been minimal contact between them.[37] In an interview conceded to Prensa Libre on July 23, Wálter López admitted that the call was mistaken, alleging that "due to my position on the field, I was unable to properly see the action. It was my assistant who helped me".[38] [39]

In the semi-final match between Mexico and Panama, the US referee Mark Geiger lost control[40] of the match which began with him showing a questionable red card to Panama's Luis Tejada in the 24th minute. Later, as a 10-man Panama was a minute away from winning the match 1-0, he also awarded Mexico a controversial penalty kick for a handball.[41] While defending in the penalty box against the Mexican midfielder Carlos Esquivel, Panama's captain Román Torres lost balance and fell backwards on the ball, touching it[42] (fouls for handling the ball must be deliberate[43]). The decision to award the penalty kick outraged the Panama team who walked off the field and threatened to abandon the match.[44] While the players were involved in a long scuffle with the officials, coaches and other players on the sidelines, the fans repeatedly pelted them with beer glasses and objects. Panama returned to the field after approximately ten minutes. Andrés Guardado scored the penalty and forced the match into extra time, which Mexico subsequently won.[45] After the final whistle, the Panamanian players and coaching staff ran en masse on the field towards the referees, who had to be escorted off the field by security.[46] [47] Later, Guardado said in the interview that it hurt to take the penalty and he considered missing the kick on purpose, but "had to be professional".[48] Mexico's coach Miguel Herrera argued there was no reason for Guardado to purposely miss the kick, referencing the controversial decision that awarded a penalty to the Netherlands over Mexico at the World Cup. "I didn't hear that question in the World Cup when we were knocked out for a penalty that wasn't", he said. "It seems that only Mexico should declare itself guilty."[49]

On July 23, the Football Associations from both Panama and Costa Rica released their respective statements on their websites regarding such controversies, and requesting the removal of the CONCACAF referees committee members.[50] [51]

On July 24, the CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee suspended the Panamanian goalkeeper Jaime Penedo for two matches for insulting the referee. This meant he would miss the Cup's third-place game and a World Cup qualifier game in November. On top of missing the third-place game because of the red card, forward Luis Tejada was given an additional one match suspension for insulting the referee.[52]

Panama team banner

After the semi-final match against Mexico, the Panamanian players reunited in their locker room and brandished a banner which read "CONCACAF Ladrones ("CONCACAF thieves") and three times "Corruptos" ("corrupt"), while pointing thumbs down in protest. The image was then circulated on Twitter.[53] The CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee subsequently fined Panamanian Football Federation $15,000 for this display.

Referee Committee controversy

Both the Costa Rican Football Federation and Panamanian Football Federation publicly called for those within the Referee Committee at CONCACAF to be removed from their position.[54] [55]

CONCACAF announced that they would discuss the matter at their executive committee meeting.[56]

Tournament organization

United States captain Michael Bradley criticized the organization of the tournament, commenting that there was too much traveling involved for teams and the stadiums had poor playing surfaces, while questioning the need for the two best third-placed teams to qualify to the next round.[57] Mexico's head coach Miguel Herrera was also critical of the travel arrangements "It's a disorder in the airplanes, having rival teams on the same flight, with so much people from CONCACAF, we were all squeezed in, we didn't even have room for our luggage, there was no room for our baggage, Mexico has been transporting their luggage on road and that's how we have been working".[57] Both Herrera and Bradley were fined by CONCACAF for their comments.[58]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CONCACAF Announces 2015 Gold Cup Host Cities, Venues, Group Seeds and Group Stage Dates. CONCACAF.com. December 16, 2014. December 16, 2014. December 5, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171205110036/http://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-announces-2015-gold-cup-host-cities-venues-group-seeds-and-group-stage-dates. dead.
  2. News: Schwartz. Nick. July 19, 2015. Costa Rica loses to Mexico in heartbreaking fashion after awful penalty call in extra time. USA Today . July 31, 2015.
  3. News: . July 20, 2015. El polémico penal en el minuto 123 que llevó a México a semifinales de la Copa de Oro 2015. The controversial penalty in the 123rd minute that took Mexico to the semifinals of the 2015 Gold Cup. es. BBC Mundo.
  4. News: McCarthy. Kyle. July 22, 2015. Mexico advance to Gold Cup final amid controversial calls vs. Panama. FoxSports. July 31, 2015.
  5. News: Longman. Jeré. July 23, 2015. Messy Mexico-Panama Semifinal Leaves a Stain on Concacaf. The New York Times. July 31, 2015.
  6. News: . Panama attack Concacaf 'corrupt thieves' after Gold Cup loss to Mexico. The Guardian. July 25, 2015. July 31, 2015.
  7. Web site: Mexico 3 Jamaica 1. July 25, 2015. BBC Sport. July 27, 2015.
  8. Web site: Gold Cup . Traffic Sports . August 10, 2014 . 19 . June 9, 2014 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210428/http://www.trafficsports.com/menu/pdf/english/GoldCup.pdf . August 12, 2014 .
  9. Web site: 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Groups and Schedule Announced. CONCACAF.com. March 12, 2015. March 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701170756/http://www.concacaf.com/article/2015-concacaf-gold-cup-groups-and-schedule-announced. July 1, 2015. dead.
  10. Web site: Williams. Sean. Jamaica to host 2014 Caribbean Cup. Jamaica Observer. March 18, 2014. February 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220217003223/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Jamaica-to-host-2014-Caribbean-Cup_16297547. dead.
  11. Web site: 2015 Gold Cup Regulations. CONCACAF (via issuu.com). April 9, 2015. pdf. April 7, 2015.
  12. Web site: Men's Ranking 27 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141208084643/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=244/concacaf.html. dead. December 8, 2014. FIFA.com. December 17, 2014.
  13. Web site: Mexico's Guardado earns Golden Ball award. CONCACAF.com. July 26, 2015. July 27, 2015. August 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820202736/http://www.concacaf.com/article/mexicos-guardado-earns-golden-ball-award. dead.
  14. Web site: USA's Dempsey wins Golden Boot award. CONCACAF.com. July 26, 2015. July 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150728220932/http://www.concacaf.com/article/usas-dempsey-wins-golden-boot-award. July 28, 2015. dead.
  15. Web site: USA's Guzan captures Golden Glove award. CONCACAF.com. July 26, 2015. July 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150728220937/http://www.concacaf.com/article/usas-guzan-captures-golden-glove-award. July 28, 2015. dead.
  16. Web site: Mexico's Corona merits Bright Future award. CONCACAF.com. July 26, 2015. July 27, 2015. August 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820203203/http://www.concacaf.com/article/mexicos-corona-merits-bright-future-award. dead.
  17. Web site: Concacaf Promises To Pay Gold Cup Prize Money Amid FIFA Investigation . Forbes . July 7, 2015 . July 23, 2015.
  18. Web site: Gold Cup Winner to Qualify to FIFA Confederations Cup Playoff Match. CONCACAF.com. April 5, 2013. June 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170613061812/http://www.concacaf.com/article/gold-cup-winner-to-qualify-to-fifa-confederations-cup-playoff-match-2. dead.
  19. Web site: It's official: Copa América will be held on U.S. soil in special centennial tournament in 2016. mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. May 1, 2014. September 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925085225/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/01/copa-america-will-be-held-us-soil-in-2016. dead.
  20. News: Fifa crisis live: This is the World Cup of fraud and we're issuing Fifa a red card,' say US prosecutors . The Telegraph . May 27, 2015 . May 27, 2015.
  21. Web site: 2015 CONCACAF TV Broadcasting Rights . TrafficSports.com . January 2, 2014 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210428/http://www.trafficsports.com/menu/pdf/english/GoldCup.pdf . August 12, 2014 .
  22. News: Piala Concacaf 2015 Disiarkan Eksklusif Lewat Aplikasi Genflix 2.0 - Selular.ID. July 11, 2015. Selular.ID. October 25, 2018. en-US.
  23. Web site: Live football on BT Sport. BT Sport. July 3, 2015. July 5, 2015.
    Setanta Sports (ROI only)
  24. Web site: Datos interesantes de la Copa Oro de la Cocacaf 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20200907144915/http://semananews.com/news/2015/jun/24/datos-interesantes-de-la-copa-oro-de-la-cocacaf-20/. dead. September 7, 2020. semananews.com.
  25. Web site: Reykon y Bebe Rexha cantan la canción ofical de Univision para la Copa Oro. Univision.com.
  26. Web site: The Reggae Boyz refuse to practice before Gold Cup game. Vice Sports. July 8, 2015. Liam Daniel Pierce. July 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150716132959/https://sports.vice.com/en_us/highlight/the-reggae-boyz-refuse-to-practice-before-gold-cup-game. July 16, 2015. dead.
  27. Web site: GOLD CUP FOOTBALL: 'All Has Been Settled' - Captain Burrell. Gleaner. July 23, 2015. July 7, 2015.
  28. Web site: Deserta futbolista cubano en Copa Oro . voanoticias.com . Voz de América . July 9, 2015 . August 30, 2016 . es . Defecting Cuban footballer in Gold Cup.
  29. Web site: Keilen García desertó de la selección de Cuba. Keilen García deserts the Cuban national team. futbol.univision.com. July 9, 2015. es. July 8, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150710083943/http://futbol.univision.com/article/2394482/2015-07-08/copa-oro/cuba/keilen-garcia-deserto-de-la. July 10, 2015. dead.
  30. Web site: Deserta otro jugador cubano en Chicago. Univision (Miami). July 12, 2015. es. July 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150713063055/http://miami.univision.com/noticias/article/2015-07-10/deserta-otro-jugador-cubano-en. July 13, 2015. dead.
  31. Web site: Tercer desertor cubano en la Copa Oro. futbol.univision.com. July 23, 2015. es. July 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723061152/http://futbol.univision.com/article/2402298/2015-07-15/copa-oro/tercer-desertor-cubano-en-la. July 23, 2015. dead.
  32. Web site: Ariel Martínez también abandona la selección de Cuba en la Copa Oro . futbol.univision.com . July 23, 2015 . es . July 16, 2015 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723184457/http://futbol.univision.com/article/2403018/2015-07-16/copa-oro/cuba/ariel-martinez-tambien-abandona . July 23, 2015 .
  33. Web site: Deserta segundo jugador de Cuba en la Copa de Oro . Univision.com . July 23, 2015 . es . July 12, 2015 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723184647/http://feeds.univision.com/feeds/article/2015-07-12/deserta-segundo-jugador-de-cuba?refPath=%2Ffutbol . July 23, 2015 .
  34. News: Monforte. Felipe. Así fue el escandaloso penalti que clasificó a México. This was the scandalous penalty which sent Mexico through. July 23, 2015. MARCA.com . July 20, 2015.
  35. News: Jiménez. Daniel. Robo arbitral elimina a Costa Rica de la Copa Oro. Refereeing theft eliminates Costa Rica from the Gold Cup. July 23, 2015. La Nación . July 19, 2015.
  36. News: Costa Rica manager Paulo Wanchope reacts to last-minute loss vs. Mexico in Gold Cup quarters. July 23, 2015. NBC Sports. July 20, 2015.
  37. News: VIDEO: Roy Miller sobre el penal: "Se tira, exagera Oribe Peralta". Roy Miller on penalty: "Oribe Peralta exaggerated". July 23, 2015. diez.hn . July 20, 2015.
  38. News: López: No era penal. July 24, 2015. . July 23, 2015.
  39. News: Navas. Samuel. Walter López lo admite, no era penal para México. July 24, 2015. Fox Deportes. July 23, 2015. August 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150803185503/http://www.foxdeportes.com/copa-oro/story/walter-lopez-lo-admite-no-era-penal-para-mexico/. dead.
  40. Web site: Messy Mexico-Panama Semifinal Leaves a Stain on Concacaf. nytimes.com. July 23, 2015. "Wednesday's semifinal between Mexico and Panama provided another low moment as Mark Geiger, an American referee, lost control of the match."
  41. News: Watch: Penalty call sets up Mexico go-ahead goal in win vs. Panama. July 23, 2015. SI. July 23, 2015.
  42. News: Panama got screwed by a bogus 89th-minute penalty against Mexico and then went ballistic. July 23, 2015. businessinsider.com.
  43. News: Laws of the Game. https://web.archive.org/web/20150503235320/http://www.fifa.com/development/education-and-technical/referees/laws-of-the-game.html. dead. May 3, 2015. July 23, 2015. FIFA. February 28, 2015.
  44. News: Jugadores de Panamá mostraron sentirse robados. Panama players showed how they felt robbed. July 23, 2015. Récord . July 22, 2015. July 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723150502/http://www.record.com.mx/articulo/noticias/4254614/copa-oro+mexico/jugadores-de-panama-abandonan-el-campo-tras-polemico-penalti. dead.
  45. News: Con polémica: México venció a Panamá y jugará final de Copa Oro. Mexico defeat Panama and will play in the Gold Cup Final. July 23, 2015. AFC. El Comercio . July 22, 2015.
  46. Web site: Panama players storm after referee following controversial Gold Cup loss. sbnation.com. July 23, 2015.
  47. Web site: Gold Cup semifinal at Dome turns chaotic. ajc.com. July 23, 2015. July 24, 2015. July 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150727075454/http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/pro-sports/gold-cup-semifinal-at-dome-turns-chaotic/nm5Y5/. dead.
  48. News: Mexico's Guardado thought about missing penalty kick on purpose. July 22, 2015. CBS Sports.
  49. News: Mexico reach Gold Cup final but Panama furious after penalty call. ESPNFC.us. July 23, 2015.
  50. Web site: De Gracia. Adán. FEPAFUT exige remoción integral de la Comisión Arbitral de la CONCACAF. FEPAFUT.com . July 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724113539/http://www.fepafut.com/noticias_detail.asp?id=4314. July 24, 2015. dead.
  51. Web site: Escobar. Gina. Vargas. Rafael. FEDEFUTBOL exige cambios en CONCACAF. FEDEFUTBOLCR.com . July 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724112133/http://fedefutbolcr.com/fedefutbol-exige-cambios-en-concacaf/. July 24, 2015. dead.
  52. Web site: Jaime Penedo suspendido dos partidos y 15 mil dólares de multa a Panamá. rpctv.com. July 24, 2015.
  53. News: Tras polémica con Tri, Panamá llama 'ladrones corruptos' a CONCACAF. After controversy against the Tri, Panama call CONCACAF 'corrupted thieves'. July 23, 2015. ESPN.com.mx. es. July 22, 2015.
  54. Web site: FEDEFUTBOL exige cambios en CONCACAF. fedefutbolcr.com. July 23, 2015. es. July 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724112133/http://fedefutbolcr.com/fedefutbol-exige-cambios-en-concacaf/. July 24, 2015. dead.
  55. Web site: FEPAFUT exige remoción integral de la Comisión Arbitral de la CONCACAF. fepafut.com. July 22, 2015. es. July 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724113539/http://www.fepafut.com/noticias_detail.asp?id=4314. July 24, 2015. dead.
  56. Web site: CONCACAF Statement regarding official requests from Costa Rica Football Federation and Panama Football Federation. concacaf.com. July 24, 2015.
  57. Web site: Herrera Criticized Gold Cup Organization. FutMexSource.com. July 21, 2015. July 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150721222013/http://www.futmexsource.com/herrera-criticized-gold-cup-organization/. July 21, 2015. dead.
  58. Web site: El Comité Disciplinario de la Copa Oro Impone Sanciones a México, Panamá y Estados Unidos. CONCACAF. es. July 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150728000934/http://www.concacaf.com/es/article/concacaf-gold-cup-disciplinary-committee-levies-sanctions-in-mexico-panama-and-united-states-cases. July 28, 2015. dead.