Caligiuri Fails to Start for U.S.; Places Blame on Soccer Federation

For the third time in the past four games, midfielder Paul Caligiuri wasn’t in the U.S. national team’s starting lineup Saturday.

Asked what he thought he had to do to regain a starting position, he said, “Sign my contract?”

Caligiuri’s contract offer was withdrawn by the U.S. Soccer Federation when he failed to sign by the Jan. 14 deadline, then renewed three weeks ago. But he still refuses to sign and is playing for $40 a day.

U.S. Coach Bob Gansler said the contract dispute has no bearing on his decision not to start Caligiuri. The midfielder from Santa Monica entered the game Saturday 10 minutes into the second half.

“I really don’t care how anyone makes their living,” Gansler said. “You start the 11 best players. That’s what you saw.”

Caligiuri did not point a finger at Gansler, but he accused the federation of playing “mind games.”

“They give you a contract and say, ‘Take it or leave it.’ But when you leave it, they put major pressure on you.”