Jurgen Klinsmann, the United States coach, has been suspended for the Concacaf Gold Cup final for showing dissent on the sideline following his side’s 3-1 semi-final victory over Honduras, meaning he will have to watch the game from the stands.
The suspension was announced by the Concacaf disciplinary committee after it reviewed a report from the referee of the match on Wednesday, meaning he will not be allowed on the touchline on Sunday night. Consequently, assistant Martin Vasquez is in charge on the sidelines and will make calls on tactical changes.
Klinsmann, who had been unhappy with a series of decisions against his team and hard tackles by Honduras players that went unpunished, was asked to leave the technical area after “showing dissent towards the referee by throwing the ball in a violent manner”.
The US will seek their fifth Gold Cup title when they faces Panama on Sunday night in Chicago.
The decision cannot be appealed, Concacaf said, though Klinnsman is unlikely to have done so, acknowledging post-match on Wednesday that he had let his emotions get the better of him.
“It was just a reaction out of frustration, because fouls had added up throughout the last half an hour,” he said. “I just kind of overboiled it. Obviously, you shouldn’t then throw the ball or hit it on the ground. I apologise for that reaction, but it was not meant against the referee, against nobody. It was just frustration because you feel the health of your player [is in jeopardy] in that moment. I apologise for that.”
The United States are targeting more Gold cup success on Sunday night, while opponents Panama have never won the event before.