Panama "wants to prevent Mexico from qualifying for the 2014 World Cup," according to OLE. Panama is "protesting that Mexico's Chaco Giménez previously participated in a game with Argentina, and is therefore asking for Mexico to lose points." This would "prevent the Mexican team from playing in the playoff against New Zealand." Panama is claiming that "because Giménez had played with Argentina, his inclusion on the Mexican roster in the CONCACAF Hexagonal (fourth round) qualifying was illegal." Giménez played for Argentina in '01 in the South American U20s. The "only thing left to be seen is whether FIFA will accept Panama's claim" (OLE, 10/31). LA AFICION reported FIFA's rulebook's Article 15 indicates that "no player who has participated (partially or completely) with an association in an official competition at any level should be able to participate in an international game with a team representing another association." Giménez's participation with the Argentine U20s "in theory disqualified him from the Mexican roster in the Mexico-Panama qualifier" played on Oct. 11 (LA AFICION, 10/30).
