First Vidal, now Jara - Chile's self-inflicted problems threaten to derail Copa bid

After the Juventus star's car crash an influential defender has been banned for three matches for his cheeky finger poke - another untimely distraction, says Peter Staunton.

SANTIAGO, Chile - Gonzalo Jara poked his way to infamy against Uruguay in the Copa America quarterfinal last Wednesday. His provocation of Edinson Cavani earned the long-haired forward a red card but the match-night official failed to take action on the Chile central defender for his part in that tempestuous match.

Subsequently, the images of Jara with his finger on Cavani's backside have been prominent in the capital all week long. They were splashed across the newspapers and television screens as Chile waited to…