Thieves steal $14,000 from Costa Rica’s National Football Team in the U.S.

Costa Rica’s National Football team, or “La Sele,” suffered two major blows this weekend in the United States: First they were eliminated by Honduras in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup 2013, and when they returned to their hotel, they discovered their rooms had been burglarized by unidentified subjects who took cash and belongings worth some $14,000.

Members of the Costa Rican Football Federation (FEDEFUTBOL) are negotiating a response with the tournament organization (CONCACAF) as well as the management of the Sheraton Hotel in Baltimore.

At least five players, as well as federation members, were affected, FEDEFUTBOL delegate Rafael Vargas told local media on Sunday evening. “They entered the rooms at the time we were at the stadium playing against Honduras,” Vargas told Costa Rica’s Radio Monumental.

Costa Rica’s National Team had been robbed before, in other regional tournaments such as the UNCAF Cup 2009 in Honduras and the 2011 edition in Panama.