(Newser)
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The US soccer team has apologized for completely ignoring American troops who gathered on the tarmac at an airport in Guatemala to welcome them to the country. The team, headed for a World Cup qualifier, walked straight past the lines of troops without a word. Some of the service members, who are stationed in Guatemala, complained on Facebook about feeling insulted, but a rep for the team insists it was a simple misunderstanding, TMZ reports.
"The players and staff were simply unsure of the correct protocol in terms of engaging the military members on arrival to Guatemala," the team rep says. The players "weren't sure if they were welcoming them or providing security." The apology smoothed things over with the troops, according to TMZ. The game ended in a 1-1 tie after a late goal from Guatemala.
