Disciplinary Actions in Costa Rican National Football Team
In a stunning decision, three players from the Costa Rican national football team have been removed from the squad due to disciplinary issues as they prepare for upcoming friendlies against Colombia and England. The players affected are:
- Kenneth Vargas of Hearts
- Warren Madrigal from MLS side Nashville SC
- Alejandro Bran from LD Alajuelense
These players will miss the matches scheduled for June 1 in Bogotá and June 10 in Orlando.
Incident Leading to Exclusions
Bran’s exclusion follows a serious incident where his vehicle was hit by gunfire during a confrontation outside a San José bar early Monday morning. Local authorities are currently looking into this shooting case. While the Costa Rica Football Federation (FCRF) did not specifically refer to the gunfire incident in their announcement, they cited a lack of conditions that would allow Bran to continue with the team.
Federation’s Statement on Player Conduct
The FCRF also later confirmed that Vargas and Madrigal were dropped from the training session based on established protocols that govern player conduct within the national teams. In their statement, they reaffirmed the importance of discipline and adherence to rules, emphasizing these as core values essential to representing Costa Rica on the international stage.
Club Actions Following Federation’s Decision
In tandem with the FCRF’s actions, LD Alajuelense has taken similar steps against Bran and Vargas. The club declared that, in accordance with their institutional principles, they have made the decision to immediately sever ties with both players following a thorough evaluation of the recent developments.
Context of the Situation
This event comes in light of Costa Rica’s failure to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, prompting the hiring of Fernando Batista as the new head coach in March, with a mandate that extends to the 2030 World Cup.
