2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup

The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup (formerly called FIFA World Youth Championship), hosted by Canada from 30 June to 22 July 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth overall. Argentine player Sergio Agüero was given the FIFA U-20 Golden Shoe (top scorer, with six goals) and the FIFA U-20 Golden Ball (best player of the tournament), while Japan earned the FIFA Fair Play Award.

2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007
Coupe du Monde de Football des Moins de 20 ans 2007
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup official logo
Tournament details
Host countryCanada
Dates30 June – 22 July
Teams24 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)6 (in 6 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Argentina (6th title)
Runners-up Czech Republic
Third place Chile
Fourth place Austria
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored135 (2.6 per match)
Attendance1,195,299 (22,987 per match)
Top scorer(s) Sergio Agüero (6 goals)
Best player(s) Sergio Agüero
Fair play award Japan

The tournament featured 24 teams coming from six continental confederations; Canada qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining teams qualified based on their rankings at the respective continental U-20 (U-19 in Europe's case) tournaments. UEFA (Europe) qualified six teams; AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America) four teams each; and OFC (Oceania) one team.

The tournament took place in a variety of venues across the country – Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Victoria and Burnaby (Vancouver) – with the showcase stadium being Toronto's new National Soccer Stadium[1] where the final match was held. 19 years later Canada will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On 28 June 2007, two days before the inaugural match, it was reported that 950,000 tickets had been sold,[2] making it the largest single-sport event ever taking place in the country,[3] and on 3 July, the tournament organisers sold the millionth ticket.[4] On 19 July, the semifinal match between Chile and Argentina marked this edition as the most attended in the tournament's history, with an accumulated attendance of 1,156,187 spectators, surpassing Mexico 1983's 1,155,160 spectators.[5] Final attendance totalled 1,195,299.

Venues

Montreal Edmonton Ottawa
Olympic Stadium Commonwealth Stadium Frank Clair Stadium
Capacity: 66,308 Capacity: 60,081 Capacity: 26,559
45°33′28.8″N 73°33′07.2″W 53°33′34.6″N 113°28′34.2″W 45°23′55.8″N 75°41′03.6″W
Toronto Victoria Burnaby
National Soccer Stadium Royal Athletic Park Swangard Stadium
Capacity: 20,195 Capacity: 14,500 Capacity: 10,000
43°37′59.5″N 79°25′06.8″W 48°25′52.6″N 123°21′14.6″W 49°13′51.0″N 123°01′17.0″W

Qualification

2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup final rankings.

Twenty-three teams qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. As the host team, Canada received an automatic bid, bringing the total number of teams to twenty-four for the tournament. The final draw for the group stages took place on 3 March 2007 in Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, Toronto.

Confederation Qualifying Tournament Qualifier(s)
AFC (Asia) 2006 AFC Youth Championship  Japan
 Jordan1
 North Korea1
 South Korea
CAF (Africa) 2007 African Youth Championship  Congo1
 Gambia1
 Nigeria
 Zambia
CONCACAF
(North, Central America & Caribbean)
Host nation  Canada
2007 U-20 World Cup CONCACAF qualifying tournament  Costa Rica
 Mexico
 Panama
 United States
CONMEBOL (South America) 2007 South American Youth Championship  Argentina
 Brazil
 Chile
 Uruguay
OFC (Oceania) 2007 OFC U-20 Championship  New Zealand1
UEFA (Europe) 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship  Austria
 Czech Republic
 Poland
 Portugal
 Scotland
 Spain
1.^ Teams that made their debut.

Match officials

Confederation Referee Assistants
AFC Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia) Thanom Borikut (Thailand)
Mu Yuxin (China)
Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan) Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)
Bahadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan)
CAF Mohamed Benouza (Algeria) Amar Talbi (Algeria)
Mazari Kerai (Algeria)
CONCACAF Steven Depiero (Canada) Héctor Vergara (Canada)
Joe Fletcher (Canada)
Joel Aguilar (El Salvador) Roberto Giron (Honduras)
Daniel Williamson (Panama)
Germán Arredondo (Mexico) Héctor Delgadillo (Mexico)
Francisco Pérez (Mexico)
Enrico Wijngaarde (Suriname) Anthony Garwood (Jamaica)
Ricardo Morgan (Jamaica)
Terry Vaughn (United States) Chris Strickland (United States)
George Gansner (United States)
CONMEBOL Hernando Buitrago (Colombia) Abraham González (Colombia)
Rafael Rivas (Colombia)
OFC Peter O'Leary (New Zealand) Brent Best (New Zealand)
Kaloata Chilia (Vanuatu)
UEFA Howard Webb (England) Mike Mullarkey (England)
Darren Cann (England)
Wolfgang Stark (Germany) Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany)
Volker Wezel (Germany)
Viktor Kassai (Hungary) Gábor Erős (Hungary)
Tibor Vámos (Hungary)
Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Fermín Martínez Ibáñez (Spain)
Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)
Martin Hansson (Sweden) Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)
Henrik Andrén (Sweden)

Squads

For a list of the squads see 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup squads

Group stages

Rubin Okotie of Austria vs. Destin Onka of Congo at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on 2 July 2007.

The 24 participating teams were distributed between six groups of four teams each, according to a draw held on 3 March 2007. The groups are contested on a league system, where each team plays one time against the other teams in the same group, for a total of six matches per group. Each group winner and runner-up teams, as well as the best four third-placed teams, qualify for the first round of the knockout stage (round of 16).

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Status
 Chile 321060+67Advanced to the round of 16
 Austria 312021+15
 Congo 311134−14Referred to the ranking of third-placed teams
 Canada 300306−60
Canada 0–3 Chile
Report Medina  25'
Carmona  54'
Grondona  81'
Attendance: 20,195
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

Congo 1–1 Austria
Ibara  59' (pen.) Report Hoffer  7'
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 19,899
Referee: Enrico Wijngaarde (Suriname)

Austria 1–0 Canada
Okotie  47' Report
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 31,579
Referee: Hernando Buitrago (Colombia)

Chile 3–0 Congo
Sánchez  49'
Medina  75'
Vidal  82'
Report
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 30,352
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

Canada 0–2 Congo
Report Ngakosso  26'
Ikouma  60'
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 32,058
Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Chile 0–0 Austria
Report
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Status
 Spain 321085+37Advanced to the round of 16
 Zambia 311143+14
 Uruguay 311134−14Referred to the ranking of third-placed teams
 Jordan 301236−31
Jordan 1–1 Zambia
Abdullah Deeb  41' Report Tembo  8' (pen.)
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Terry Vaughn (United States)

Spain 2–2 Uruguay
Adrián L.  71'
Capel  90+3'
Report Cavani  47'
L. Suárez  56'
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Uruguay 1–0 Jordan
Cavani  40' Report
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Peter O'Leary (New Zealand)

Zambia 1–2 Spain
Njobvu  74' Report M. Suárez  30' (pen.)
Mata  40'
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Germán Arredondo (Mexico)

Spain 4–2 Jordan
Adrián L.  29', 32', 38'
Marquitos  79'
Report Omran  48'
Deeb  56'
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Hernando Buitrago (Colombia)

Uruguay 0–2 Zambia
Report Mulenga  22' (pen.)
Kola  51'
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Status
 Mexico 330072+59Advanced to the round of 16
 Gambia 320134−16
 Portugal 31024403Referred to the ranking of third-placed teams
 New Zealand 300315−40
Portugal 2–0 New Zealand
Gama  45', 61' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Hernando Buitrago (Colombia)

Gambia 0–3 Mexico
Report Dos Santos  57'
Moreno  67'
J. Hernández  89'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

New Zealand 0–1 Gambia
Report Jallow  22'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)

Mexico 2–1 Portugal
Dos Santos  48' (pen.)
Barrera  66'
Report Antunes  89'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Portugal 1–2 Gambia
Condesso  20' Report Jallow  44' (pen.)
Mansally  68'
Attendance: 28,402
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

New Zealand 1–2 Mexico
Pelter  89' Report Bermúdez  24'
Mares  78'
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 29,792
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Algeria)

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Status
 United States 321093+67Advanced to the round of 16
 Poland 311137−44
 Brazil 310245−13Referred to the ranking of third-placed teams
 South Korea 302145−12
Poland 1–0 Brazil
Krychowiak  23' Report
Attendance: 55,800
Referee: Howard Webb (England)

South Korea 1–1 United States
Shin Young-rok  38' Report Szetela  17'
Attendance: 55,800
Referee: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)

United States 6–1 Poland
Szetela  9', 51'
Adu  20', 45+3', 85'
Altidore  70'
Report Janczyk  5'
Attendance: 35,801
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

Brazil 3–2 South Korea
Amaral  35'
Pato  48', 59'
Report Shim Young-sung  83'
Shin Young-rok  89'
Attendance: 35,801
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Brazil 1–2 United States
Lima  64' Report Altidore  25', 81'
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 26,559
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

Poland 1–1 South Korea
Janczyk  45' Report Lee Sang-ho  71'
Attendance: 34,912
Referee: Enrico Wijngaarde (Suriname)

Group E

Czech Republic vs. DPR Korea at the Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa on 3 July 2007.
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Status
 Argentina 321070+77Advanced to the round of 16
 Czech Republic 312043+15
 North Korea 302123−12Referred to the ranking of third-placed teams
 Panama 301218−71
North Korea 0–0 Panama
Report
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 26,559
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Algeria)

Argentina 0–0 Czech Republic
Report
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 26,559
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

Czech Republic 2–2 North Korea
Kalouda  56'
Fenin  66'
Report Kim Kum-il  12'
Jon Kwang-ik  89' (pen.)
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 22,200
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

Panama 0–6 Argentina
Report Moralez  20', 27'
Zárate  23'
Agüero  25', 62'
Di María  76'
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 23,500
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)

Czech Republic 2–1 Panama
Kalouda  79'
Střeštík  82'
Report Barahona  84'
Attendance: 34,912
Referee: Steven Depiero (Canada)

Argentina 1–0 North Korea
Agüero  35' Report
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 26,559
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Group F

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Status
 Japan 321041+37Advanced to the round of 16
 Nigeria 321030+37
 Costa Rica 310223−13Referred to the ranking of third-placed teams
 Scotland 300327−50
Japan 3–1 Scotland
Morishima  43'
Umesaki  57'
Aoyama  79'
Report Campbell  82'
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Germán Arredondo (Mexico)

Nigeria 1–0 Costa Rica
Ideye  75' Report
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Peter O'Leary (New Zealand)

Costa Rica 0–1 Japan
Report Tanaka  68'
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Scotland 0–2 Nigeria
Report Bala  49', 78'
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Terry Vaughn (United States)

Japan 0–0 Nigeria
Report
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Germán Arredondo (Mexico)

Scotland 1–2 Costa Rica
Reynolds  18' Report Herrera  57'
McDonald  90+2'
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)

Ranking of third-placed teams

Group Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Status
A Congo 311134−14Advanced to the round of 16
B Uruguay 311134−14
C Portugal 31024403
D Brazil 310245−13
F Costa Rica 310223−13
E North Korea 302123−12

Knockout stages

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
11 July – Edmonton
 
 
 Austria2
 
14 July – Toronto
 
 Gambia1
 
 Austria (aet)2
 
11 July – Toronto
 
 United States1
 
 United States (aet)2
 
18 July – Edmonton
 
 Uruguay1
 
 Austria0
 
11 July – Burnaby
 
 Czech Republic2
 
 Spain (aet)4
 
14 July – Edmonton
 
 Brazil2
 
 Spain1 (3)
 
11 July – Victoria
 
 Czech Republic (p)1 (4)
 
 Japan2 (3)
 
22 July – Toronto
 
 Czech Republic (p)2 (4)
 
 Czech Republic1
 
12 July – Edmonton
 
 Argentina2
 
 Chile1
 
15 July – Montreal
 
 Portugal0
 
 Chile (aet)4
 
12 July – Ottawa
 
 Nigeria0
 
 Zambia1
 
19 July – Toronto
 
 Nigeria2
 
 Chile0
 
12 July – Toronto
 
 Argentina3 Third place
 
 Argentina3
 
15 July – Ottawa22 July – Toronto
 
 Poland1
 
 Argentina1 Austria0
 
12 July – Montreal
 
 Mexico0  Chile1
 
 Mexico3
 
 
 Congo0
 

Round of 16

Austria 2–1 Gambia
Prödl  45+1'
Hoffer  81'
Report Gómez  69'
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 18,721
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Algeria)

United States 2–1 (a.e.t.) Uruguay
Cardaccio  87' (o.g.)
Bradley  107'
Report L. Suárez  73'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

Spain 4–2 (a.e.t.) Brazil
Piqué  43'
J. García  84'
Bueno  102'
Adrián L.  120+1'
Report Lima  39'
Pato  41'
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

Japan 2–2 (a.e.t.) Czech Republic
Makino  22'
Morishima  47' (pen.)
Report Kúdela  74' (pen.)
Mareš  77' (pen.)
Penalties
Yasuda
Aoki
Makino
Morishima
Kashiwagi
3–4 Fenin
Kúdela
Suchý
Pekhart
Okleštěk
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Hernando Buitrago (Colombia)

Zambia 1–2 Nigeria
Kola  33' Report Elderson  3'
Akabueze  57'
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 22,531
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Argentina 3–1 Poland
Di María  40'
Agüero  46', 86'
Report Janczyk  33'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)

Mexico 3–0 Congo
Dos Santos  23' (pen.)
Esparza  85'
Barrera  90+4'
Report
Attendance: 40,204
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Chile 1–0 Portugal
Vidal  45' Report
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 24,687
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)

Quarter-finals

Austria 2–1 (a.e.t.) United States
Okotie  43'
Hoffer  105'
Report Altidore  15'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

Spain 1–1 (a.e.t.) Czech Republic
Mata  110' Report Kalouda  103'
Penalties
Mata
Adrián G.
Valiente
J. García
Piqué
3–4 Fenin
Suchý
Kúdela
Pekhart
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 26,801
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

Chile 4–0 (a.e.t.) Nigeria
Grondona  96'
Isla  114' (pen.), 117'
Vidangossy  120+2'
Report
Attendance: 46,252
Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Argentina 1–0 Mexico
Moralez  45' Report
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa
Attendance: 26,559
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

Semi-finals

Austria 0–2 Czech Republic
Report Mičola  4'
Fenin  15'
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 28,401
Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Chile 0–3 Argentina
Report Di María  12'
Yacob  65'
Moralez  90+3'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Match for third place

Austria 0–1 Chile
Report Martínez  45+1'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

Final

Czech Republic 1–2 Argentina
Fenin  60' Report Agüero  62'
Zárate  86'
Attendance: 19,526
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

Goalscorers

6 goals
5 goals
  • Adrián López
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal
  • Mathias Cardaccio (playing against United States)

Awards

Golden Ball Silver Ball Bronze Ball
Sergio Agüero Maximiliano Moralez Giovani dos Santos
Golden Shoe Silver Shoe Bronze Shoe
Sergio Agüero Adrián López Maximiliano Moralez
FIFA Fair Play Award
 Japan

Final ranking

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Argentina 7610162+1419
2  Czech Republic 7241107+310
3  Chile 7511123+916
4  Austria 732266011
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5  Mexico 5401103+712
6  Spain 5320138+511
7  United States 5311126+610
8  Nigeria 531155010
Eliminated in the Round of 16
9  Japan 422063+38
10  Gambia 420246−26
11  Zambia 41125504
12  Uruguay 411256−14
13  Congo 411237−44
14  Poland 4112410−64
15  Portugal 410345−13
16  Brazil 410369−33
Eliminated at the group stage
17  Costa Rica 310223−13
18  South Korea 302145−12
19  North Korea 302123−12
20  Jordan 301236−31
21  Panama 301218−71
22  Scotland 300327−50
23  New Zealand 300315−40
24  Canada 300306−60

Controversies

Nigerian accusations of racism

The Chile–Nigeria quarter-final match took place on FIFA's "Say No To Racism Day." During extra time, Chile's Jaime Grondona scored at the 96th minute. The Nigerians argued that it was offside, though referee Howard Webb allowed the goal to stand. Replays showed that a defender was caught out of place on an offside trap. Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa was shown the yellow card for his protest.[6][7]

At a post-game news conference, Nigerian coach Ladan Bosso said, "What happened on the pitch, the officiating, I think FIFA has a long way to go to beat racism, because that official showed racism." When asked if he felt Webb was a racist, Bosso said only that "It's good for FIFA to bring in the fight against racism, but they have to follow it to the letter, so the implementation will be done."[7] The coach was fined CHF 11,000 and banned for four months, as the disciplinary committee found him guilty of "offensive behaviour" under the terms of article 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

The Nigerian Football Association was also sanctioned for allowing the players to wear T-shirts with religious statements under their game jerseys. This was a violation of the regulations of the tournament, which state, "Players and officials are not allowed to display political, religious, commercial or personal messages in any language or form on their playing or team kits ..."[6]

Chilean clash with police

On 19 July 2007, Chilean players clashed with police following the semi-final match between Chile and Argentina. The Chilean players were angry with referee Wolfgang Stark saying he "lost control of the match early"[8] and complaining about being issued seven yellow cards and two red cards.[9] In total, he issued 53 fouls.[10] Following the match, Stark and his colleagues were surrounded by Chilean players who had to be restrained by members of the Toronto Police Service. Stark was then escorted off of the pitch and into the dressing room tunnel by police officers for fear that he would be attacked by the crowd or Chilean players.[11] Afterwards, several players and delegates of the Chilean team were involved in a brawl with police outside Toronto's National Soccer Stadium,[12]

The Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said that the melee began when Chilean players got into a scuffle with a rival fan.[13] He added that "members of the Chilean team then decided to direct some of their aggressive behaviour towards my officers... The job of my officers was to respond in a firm, but fair, manner to end that violence. They are trained to do so, and that is what they did."[13] The Chilean players say that Isaías Peralta walked towards Chilean fans stationed behind a security fence, but was stopped by about ten policemen. They then say a heated discussion took place, where Peralta (who speaks no English) was verbally and physically abused by the policemen.[14]

Peralta was tasered by one police officer and lost consciousness for 20 minutes.[14] The other players then got involved in the struggle with the police, before getting back on the bus and closing the doors. According to eyewitness accounts, the players on the bus began throwing things at police through the windows and tried to grab officers from inside the damaged bus.[15] Three minutes later the president of the Chilean National Association of Professional Football (ANFP), Harold Mayne-Nicholls, asked the players to descend from the bus to take a different one. As the players were getting off the bus the police then took the players back to the stadium.[16]

FIFA spokesman John Schumacher said, "The Chilean players were detained by the police to de-escalate the situation that was taking place in front of the stadium. Ten Chilean team members were detained over three hours and then released without charges.[17] FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the next day at a press conference in Toronto that the incident was "regrettable" and that he "apologized in the name of FIFA."[18] The ANFP (Chilean Professional Football Association) hired a Toronto law firm to pursue legal action against the Toronto police.[16]

In Chile, the incident was on the front page of every major newspaper. The Canadian embassy in Santiago received a bomb threat and angry Chileans protested outside the embassy with signs reading "Racist Canada."[19] Chile President Michelle Bachelet said that the incident was "especially serious because, in our opinion, the Chilean delegation suffered unjustified aggression,"[18] and lodged a formal protest with the Canadian government.[20] In response, Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper remarked that "international soccer matches are hotly contested and often become very emotional. As you know, there are processes in Canada by which the authorities review these kinds of incidents and I don't intend to comment further."[20]

It was reported in the Canadian media that one of the Chilean team members had punched a female police office in the face before Peralta had been tasered.[21][22] An internal review headed by Superintendent Jim Ramer found that officers had acted professionally and with "an immense amount of restraint" during the conflict outside BMO Field, in which Chilean players "punched, kicked, spat on and kicked" police and security staff. The report stated that the violence started when two people not involved in the game confronted each other. Security guards first attempted to intervene, and then police, which is when a Chilean player punched a female police officer in the face. From that point, the report said the violence escalated; Chilean players dismantled the armrests and footrests from the bus seats, and smashed the windows in order to spit at and throw these objects, plus D-cell batteries, clothes hangers, and cans of deodorant at the police. Four officers were reportedly injured by projectiles. FIFA agreed to pay for the $35,000 in damages to the team's rented bus.[21]

Harold Mayne-Nicholls, chair of the Football Federation of Chile and a witness to the event, said, "I didn't see any Chilean player hitting any officer except between all the struggling." Patricio Bascunan, president of the Salvador Allende Cultural Society of Toronto, said an independent review was needed.[21]

Chile's Jaime Grondona was suspended for nine months at all levels (domestic and international) and fined CHF 7,000 (including procedural costs) for assaulting match officials. The Chilean football association was fined CHF 15,000 for "team misconduct".

See also

  • Canadian Soccer Association
  • 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup

References

  1. "National Soccer Stadium" was the temporary name of the BMO Field during this tournament, as FIFA prohibits sponsorship of stadia unless the stadium sponsor is also an official FIFA sponsor.
  2. "FIFA U-20 World Cup surpasses 950,000 spectators". CanadaSoccer.com. 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  3. "History made with Canada 2007 ticket sales". FIFA. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  4. "Fast starts for Mexico, Portugal". FIFA.com. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
  5. "Canada sets U-20 World Cup attendance record". CBC Sports. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  6. "Don't blame the ref". CBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  7. "Nigerian coach levies racism charge against ref". CBC News. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  8. Woolsey, Garth (20 July 2007). "Beautiful game turns ugly". The Star. Toronto. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  9. FIFA.com Archived 21 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Chileans fight with police after loss". CNN. Associated Press. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  11. "Argentina advances to FIFA U-20 final". CBC News. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  12. [Reuters: Chile soccer players clash with Toronto police; 20 July 2007]
  13. Chilean officials blame Police for melee Archived 11 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, tsn.ca. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  14. Campbell, Morgan; Toronto Star: CSA seeking witnesses to Chile brawl; 24 July 2007 Archived 28 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Chile officials say Toronto police to blame for soccer team's post-match brawl Archived 12 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine" Canadian Press. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  16. La Tercera Archived 1 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine 21 July 2007 edition
  17. La Tercera Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine 22 July 2007 edition.
  18. "Chile football players face FIFA probe after brawl ", Reuters. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  19. "Toronto melee a global dust-up Archived 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine", thestar.com. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  20. Babage, Maria, T.O. cops under scrutiny, Slam.ca, 20 July 2007 Archived 23 June 2007 at Archive.today
  21. Powell, Betsy; Dale, Daniel; Toronto Star: Officers cleared in soccer scuffle; 31 July 2007 Archived 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  22. Dale, Daniel; Toronto Star: Chilean player admits officer was punched; 30 July 2007 Archived 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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