Regional football boss Victor Montagliani has expressed mixed feelings with the participation of CONCACAF teams in the recently concluded Copa America Centenario which was staged in the USA at 10 venues criss-crossing the vast country.

Of the six CONCACAF teams, hosts USA went farthest by booking a semi-final spot, but eventually faded to fourth in the third-place play-off game with Colombia. Mexico faltered at the quarter-final stage, while the other CONCACAF teams, including Jamaica, failed to make it past the group stage.

The joint tournament, which was contested by 10 South American national teams, and six from CONCACAF, was won by Chile, who defeated Argentina 4-2 on penalties.

“In terms of the performance of CONCACAF teams obviously we would have wanted more success… having two teams in the semi-finals would have been great or [even] more teams out of the group stage, but if you talk to our teams, their experience playing world-class opponents can’t be overshadowed and I think it was a great learning [curve]for all our teams,” Montagliani told the

Jamaica Observer on Friday.

A number of the smaller countries, especially those from CONCACAF, complained bitterly of the level of officiating in the tournament, but the Canadian head of football in North, Central America and the Caribbean was philosophical and diplomatic in addressing the burning issue.

“To be honest with you, I dont know if ever there is a match or a tournament that some teams on the wrong side of a result do not look at the officiating. I think that’s a part of our game. But there is always a review of the officiating after any tournament, so the process will not be different for Copa America,” he said.

When quizzed, Montagliani did not hide his concern with the pitch invasion incidents by fans, mainly involving games with Argentina as overzealous Lionel Messi fans breached security lines to get to touching distance of their idol.

“On the pitch invasions, there is absolutely no room for that in football , although sometimes it kind of looks cute when things happen, but the risk is too high. Organisations like ourselves and stadiums must really look how they (fans) do it because be cannot afford incidents,” he noted.

Montagliani, who took over CONCACAF’s hotseat following a historic vote in Mexico City on May 12, believes the broad-based success of the Copa America Centenario would have cast the confederation in a positive light, but in the same breath, he thinks there is still work to be done in restoring the battered imagine arising from the crippling corruption probes.

“In terms of restoring CONCACAF’s image, obviously this is another step in the right direction as our image is not going to change overnight, or it’s not one event that’s going to change it, it is the continuation of sustainable success, making the right decisions.

“And even if you do make the mistakes, make sure to put your hand up when you do… it doesnt hurt when you have success, so you have to move on to the next item, whatever that is, and try to duplicate the success,” Montagliani concluded.

— Sean Williams