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VIDEO: SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - It appears Costa Rica will contest the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying without Christian Bolanos.
The Costa Rican federation on Wednesday suspended the 27-year-old midfielder for 10 months for failing to appear for a pair of friendly matches in November.
Bolanos, who began his professional career in 2001 with Saprissa and transferred in 2007 to Europe where he now plays with FC Copenhagen, had been requested for games at Panama on November 11 and against Spain in San Jose on November 15.
Local media reports quoted Costa Rican federation disciplinary committee member Rodrigo Araya as saying that Bolanos received permission from coach Jorge Luis Pinto to appear late for training camp, but then failed to do as agreed and instead called to say that he was injured.
Araya added no proof of injury was ever presented, the reports said.
Bolanos has played for the Ticos for the past seven years, including the 2005, 2007 and 2011 Gold Cups.
Costa Rica is set to begin its World Cup qualifying campaign on June 8, and will play five more games before finishing on October 15. Bolanos, whose suspension will last until December 15, has until Monday to appeal the decision, the Costa Rican federation said.
