Älkää ikinä luottako täysin mitä mediassa väitetään jos tulkitaan sääntöjä yms. Ällistyttävän usein menee täysin metsään, jopa toimitusten ns. "asiantuntijoilta". Sääntöasiat ovat usein sellaisia, että kommentoidaan mutu-pohjalta ja jonkun toisen yhtä tietämättömän sanomisiin vedoten.
Tässä poiminta turnauksen säännöistä, itse en ole sitä pureskellut kun ei kauheasti kiinnosta mutta toivottavasti on teille apua.
http://www.copaamerica.com/default.asp?pag=Regulamentos
Chapter III. System of Play
ART.4
1. The 2007 Copa América South-American Championship will have 4 (four) stages: the first is a group stage, with 3 (three) participants in each group, followed by the quarterfinals, the semifinals and the final.
2. First Stage.
2.1 For the first stage, 12 (twelve) participating teams in the competition will be divided into 3 (three) groups of 4 (four) teams each.
2.2 The formation of these groups will be made by the South-American Football Confederation, by drawing lots in public.
2.3 The system of play shall be a League system; each team playing one match against each of the other teams in the same group. With 3 (three) points for a win, 1 (one) point for a draw, and 0 (none) for a defeat.
2.4 The course and calendar of the Copa América South-American Championship, in 2007, shall be defined on the attached file of this present regulation, which shall not be modified, unless there is a reason justified by the South-American Football Confederation Executive Committee.
3. Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final:
3.1 The teams ranked first and second in each group and the best teams among those ranked third will qualify to the quarterfinals.
3.2 The 2 (two) best teams among those ranked third will be determined according to items: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 of Art. 5 of this present Regulation.
3.3 The quarterfinal matches, the semifinal matches and the final will be played in accordance with the direct qualification of the winners.
3.4 If a tie occurs at the end of the quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches, the winner will be defined after penalty shots, according to FIFA Regulation.
3.5 The winners of the quarterfinal matches will qualify to play the semifinals.
3.6 The winners of the semifinals will qualify for the final.
3.7 The losers of the semifinals contest the play-off for third place.
ART.5
In Case of Draws
1. In case of a tie at the end of the first round, team ranking will be determined by the following criteria:
1.1 Greater number of points obtained.
1.2 Team with best goal difference. This difference is obtained by subtracting goals conceded from goals scored.
1.3 If there is no goal difference, the team that will qualify will be the one with greater number of goals scored.
1.4 If two teams are still tied, and the tie remains, the declared winner will be the winner of the head-to-head match.
1.5 If qualification cannot be defined after the successive application of the regulation, the drawing of lots in the presence of representatives of the respective institutions will take place.
1.6 If two teams are equal before they play the last match of their respective group, and if the equality still persists after applying all the criteria described in items 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 e 1.4 successively, the result will be defined in compliance with the execution of the maximum penalties, as determined in the regulations of FIFA.
