Juan Carlos Román

Juan Carlos Román is the president of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Aficionado (Linafa) in Costa Rica, a position he has held since 2001. He has expressed concerns about the declining interest in football among the youth, as highlighted by a recent study showing that a significant percentage of young people do not follow national football. Román has pointed out the rising costs of participating in and attending football matches, as well as issues of safety, including the presence of firearms at games, which he believes are detrimental to the sport's popularity. His insights reflect a broader crisis in grassroots football in Costa Rica, where many local clubs and schools are struggling to survive.