(Reuters) – Panama captain Anibal Godoy’s injury forced coach Thomas Christiansen to select a replacement before his side’s Copa America opener against Uruguay on Sunday, but defender Harold Cummings turned down the call-up saying he wasn’t good enough.
The Panamanian Football Federation (FPF) announced on Tuesday that Godoy suffered a left thigh injury in Sunday’s friendly against Paraguay and would miss the Copa America.
He could be replaced by another player to complete the 26-man squad.
According to a statement from the country’s FA released on Wednesday, Christiansen’s choice was Cummings from Guatemalan side Xelaju. The coach contacted him, he accepted the invitation and the federation informed his club.
They also sent CONMEBOL the form for substituting players due to injury, in accordance with article 71 of the competition regulations.
Hours after the notification, however, Cummings contacted the coach and declined the call-up, leaving Panama with a 25-man squad.
“I spoke to the coach, I communicated with him and I told him my point of view and in this case, I will not go to the Copa America because I am not at the level to represent my country,” Cummings told a press conference on Wednesday.
“I have to be conscious with myself, with the coach who is giving me the confidence to take me to that kind of tournament, but I also have to be conscious with my shirt, with my teammates and with a country that deserves to have the best players at the moment in the national team,” he added.
Panama begin their Copa America campaign against 15-time champions Uruguay on Sunday. They also face the United States and Bolivia in Group C.
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Sonali Paul)
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