Nicaragua expel three players from Gold Cup squad for hiring escorts Gold Cup They are now left with 20 men

The Nicaraguan FA have announced their decision to show the door to three players of their Gold Cup squad for hiring female escorts after their 4-0 defeat to Costa Rica.

Marlon Lopez, Carlos Montenegro and Carlos Chavarria will no longer be part of the team, who are left with 20 men to compete in the tournament.

The incident occurred four hours after the game, leading to a joint decision between the national team coach Henry Duarte and the federation for the players' expulsion.

"We are a team that represents a country and a people and we are ambassadors of sport, so we can't allow serious mistakes when we are just starting the competition," said Duarte.

"If there is something that has made our football grow, it is discipline."

Montenegro and Lopez played the full 90 minutes in the match against Costa Rica, while Chavarria remained on the bench.

Although this is Nicaragua's third appearance in the Gold Cup, they have yet to win a single game.