Chile Avoid World Cup Crisis

For a brief time yesterday, Chile's spot in next summer's World Cup was at risk. This bit of news might have gone unnoticed by many American fans who were busy with Thanksgiving festivities, especially considering the whole matter was resolved rather quickly.

FIFA gave the Chilean FA a 72 hour period to get a domestic lawsuit dropped by domestic club Rangers, who were relegated due to a 3 point deduction for violating the league's 6+5 rule. The cash-strapped club fielded 6 foreign players in a match, but wanted legal action to keep them in the top flight and have the point penalty assessed in the following season. Because FIFA forbids civil or government interference in soccer, the world governing body demanded that the Chilean FA work to get the club to drop the case or else they would be suspended from international play and lose their spot in the 2010 tournament.

Fortunately for the Chilean national team and its fans, the ultimatum from FIFA and the negative publicity that ensued led Rangers to drop the case soon thereafter, and Chile's spot in the World Cup is once again secure. Barring another bizarre twist in the story, Chile is set to make its first appearance in the World Cup since 1998 next summer in South Africa.