Snow go: FIFA kick out complaint

Tough ... a snapshot of the conditions that had Costa Rican players up in arms. Source: JACK DEMPSEY / AP

World governing body FIFA has thrown out Costa Rica's attempt to have their snow-hit World Cup qualifying defeat to the United States replayed.

"FIFA has examined the content of the letter and, taking into consideration ... World Cup regulations, has confirmed that the conditions established in the regulations for an official protest have not been met by the Costa Rica FA,'' a FIFA statement read.

"Therefore, the result of the match played on March 22 stands and is considered as valid.''

FIFA added regulations stipulate that if a team is worried conditions are too poor to play its officials should give the referee a written statement to that effect.

If the match is already under way the team captain is required to tell the referee in the presence of the opposing skipper.

Amid farcical scenes in Denver last week, Costa Rica slumped to a 1-0 defeat to their CONCACAF rivals in a match played out in a blizzard on a pitch blanketed in thick snow.

El Salvador referee Joel Aguilar briefly halted the game in the 55th minute before allowing the match to conclude.

Costa Rica Football Federation vice-president Jorge Hidalgo said a request had been made to world governing body FIFA to replay the match.

Hidalgo also said referee Aguilar should be suspended.

The conditions were so bad that players could not even see the pitch markings, which had to be swept even with the match in progress.

The defeat left Costa Rica at the bottom of the CONCACAF final round qualifying standings while the victory elevated the United States to second in the table behind Honduras.

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