Gold reality: John banned from Cup
FOXBOROUGH -- Revolution defender Avery John hoped to be performing for Trinidad and Tobago in the Gold Cup. But John is among a group of Soca Warrior players who have been banned from the national team while involved in a pay dispute with the country's football federation.
So, John will remain with the Revolution during the Gold Cup, which continues through June 24 in six US cities. Trinidad and Tobago meets El Salvador tonight and the US Saturday in Carson, Calif., then Guatemala at Gillette Stadium Tuesday.
"I would love to be there, to have a chance with the national team," John said. "This is a major tournament. But everyone is standing firm because we believe change is needed and this is something that needs to be done for the future, for the young guys.
"We are blacklisted and can't play. We haven't received the money we were promised [from the World Cup]. We need to set up a PFA [Professional Footballers Association] in Trinidad to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Trinidad and Tobago played to a surprising 0-0 tie with Sweden in its first World Cup finals appearance ever in Germany last June, then lost to England and Paraguay. The players each expected to receive payments approaching the $40,000 each US player earned but were offered considerably less.
Most of the players from the World Cup team recently met in Trinidad and Tobago to continue training, organizing matches to raise awareness for their campaign. Kevin Harrison, a financial advisor for England's PFA, has been working with the group in Port of Spain.
"Regardless of everything, I will be supporting the team in the Gold Cup," John said. "I haven't seen them play, so I don't know how they will do. They have more local-based players and they will be getting some good experience and exposure. They have a lot of young guys and I want them to do well."
John has started five games at left back for the Revolution (5-2-3, 18 points) but recently lost his starting spot to James Riley. But with Michael Parkhurst on Gold Cup duty, John could regain the starting position as Riley moves to central defender when the Revolution return to action against Columbus June 16. The team has a bye this week but several starters are expected to perform against D.C. United in a Reserve League match today.
"I could be getting some playing time and I will try to take full advantage of it," John said. "I've been in it a long time and experienced some bad things. At this point, I'm 32 years old and I just want to enjoy everything, work hard, and be professional. I am in the last year of my contract and I want to end it on a good note, win the championship and get the ring.
"We've been there [the MLS Cup] twice [in the past two years]. Anything can happen, but with the team we have and what we are doing, we can only get better. There will be ups and downs during the season, but everyone has those."
US national team defender Cory Gibbs is training with the Revolution while rehabilitating a knee injury. Gibbs, who played at Brown University, is expected to return to Charlton Athletic in England. . . . Honduran midfielder Cristian Santamaria is trying out with the Revolution.
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com. 
