JON ARNOLD in Arlington, Texas – Journalists covering the opening matches of the Gold Cup were invited to a news conference with CONCACAF’s general secretary Chuck Blazer during halftime of Costa Rica’s 5-0 win against Cuba. Blazer, however, refused to shed any light on the situation which has recently enveloped CONCACAF.
During his opening statement, Blazer said he wanted to call the news conference to welcome everyone to the 2011 Gold Cup and proudly reiterated that Cowboys Stadium was a sell out today. He declined to take any questions regarding the turmoil in CONCACAF and FIFA, but insisted everything is as it was before everything went haywire.
“I came to make sure that I can assure you that everything is normal, that things are business as usual,” he said. “That the cup that you see is very much the cup that you’ve seen before, and the one that you will see again in the future.
“And everything that is being done now is being done under the direction of the executive committee and I am in place as the general secretary.”
Blazer said this year’s Gold Cup would be the best and most competitive ever, and said he didn’t think fans would be soured on the tournament because of external factors.
“People are not here to watch the politics, people are here to watch the teams on the field,” he said. “And what we will give them over these next few weeks is great football on the field, and I hope they will enjoy it, and follow in the future, and have a great time. That’s what it’s about.”
When pressed to talk more about the suspension of acting president Lisle Austin, Blazer declined, referring to the disclaimer he made at the start of the news conference when he said he wouldn’t discuss any jurisprudence.