FIFA Squashes Bulls Delgado Move

• North Jersey Herald, Monday, February 26, 2007 3:54 PM

It turns out that New York Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena was talking about Agustin Delgado, the fiery Ecuadorian striker, when he said last week that the team was poised to use its second designated player slot. Unfortunately, FIFA nixed the move, after ruling that it would uphold the striker's yearlong suspension for inciting a brawl during a match in Ecuador late last year.

That decision means that the Red Bulls will have to make due with a series of inexperienced forwards heading into the 2007 season, says Ives Galarcep of the North Jersey Herald News. Arena said FIFA's decision means the offer to Delgado will be pulled from the table, and the club will hold onto its second DP slot until further notice. "We're not going to do anything that's a mistake so it's highly unlikely that we'll announce a signing next week," Arena said. "We're not ready yet." Red Bulls officials later confirmed that Delgado was indeed the player in question.

Meanwhile, the Bulls sent backup goalkeeper Nick Rimando, whom it only acquired two weeks ago, back to Real Salt Lake in exchange for the fourth-round draft pick it initially traded for. RSL found itself in an emergency situation after starting keeper Scott Garlick announced his shock retirement from the game last week.

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