COLOMBIA: REACTION TO SOCCER STAR ASPRILLA'S WORLD CUP EXIT

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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Spanish/Nat Mercurial forward Faustino Asprilla was kicked off the Colombian World Cup team for the rest of the tournament on Wednesday. His dismissal came after Asprilla publicly criticised Colombian coach Hernan Dario Gomez during a radio interview. Colombia's people have had differing opinions on whether the star striker should have been booted off the team. Faustino Asprilla's exit from the Colombian squad came on Wednesday morning. The controversial player was kicked out after publicly criticising coach Hernan Dario Gomez and a group of what he described as "preferred" players. It was a difficult decision for Gomez to kick him off the team because he was one of the stars in the Colombia's stars in the last world cup. In the match against Argentina in 1994, he scored one of the finest goals of the championship, making Colombia one of the favorites teams. The announcement caused shock waves in Colombia, where President Ernesto Samper even tried to persuade Gomez to reconsider his decision. But he didn't. For many people in Bogota is difficult to believe the coach's decision. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "It shouldn't be like this because he is a great player and one of the main attractions of the Colombian team, and now because he doesn't behave well in one occasion they take him out of the team. I think that they shouldn't treat him like that." SUPER CAPTION: Carlos Fonseca, Bus driver In other people's opinion the coach took the right decision. SOUNDBITE:(Spanish) "I think that the coach was right of taking out a player which was not giving any results. When Asprilla plays in foreign teams he plays really well, but, when he plays in the Colombian selection he does not play as good as he should. I also think that the coach should think more in the country." SUPER CAPTION: Henry Gutierrez, Journalist In the match against Romania, Asprilla did not appear to have the required fitness level , so the coach substituted him with five minutes remaining. Asprilla was replaced by Leider Preciado, a young striker with little international experience. His teammates appeared to agree with the coach's decision. But it seems that there are some Colombians who still hope the team will beat Tunisia without Asprilla. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "I feel sad because we need to be together, but it is impossible to put together 22 Colombians to represent Colombia with dignity. I hope that the rest of the football team play well against Tunez." SUPER CAPTION: General Jose Serrano, Chief of Colombian Police Whether he plays for his country again may well depend on whether Colombia qualifies for the second round of the tournament. If they don't, then coach Hernan Dario Gomez will almost certainly be out of a job. Asprilla has had a series of off-field troubles during his career, including a pistol-firing incident at a New Year's party in Tulua, Colombia, in 1995. This year he returned to Parma after two seasons with England's Newcastle. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a41242b3264323ae7af718bf1b15eca2 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork