GUATEMALA CITY — When the United States national team travels to Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday for the second of back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala, it will not have to worry about Carlos Ruiz.
Ruiz, the Guatemalan forward who for years has gotten under the skin of opponents with his button-pushing and goal-scoring antics, will not be making the trip. He confirmed before Friday’s first leg against the Americans that he is prohibited from leaving his country because of a legal dispute involving a property that he owns with a partner.
Ruiz said he co-signed on the property but was unaware until last Friday that the partner had stopped making payments.