South American physique CONMEBOL introduced on Thursday that Colombia won’t co-host subsequent month’s Copa America, a choice reached lower than a month earlier than the opening match and amid a wave of road protests towards Colombian President Ivn Duque.
It would have been the primary Copa America hosted by two nations.
Hours earlier Colombian authorities requested CONMEBOL to postpone the event, which can also be organized by Argentina. Sports Minister Ernesto Lucena instructed journalists it ought to happen in the long run of the yr as a result of of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Copa America is scheduled to be performed between June 13 and July 10.
CONMEBOL mentioned in a press release it was not possible to postpone the event to November and warranted it would inform on the following days concerning the relocation of the matches which must be performed in Colombia.
On Tuesday, Argentinian President Alberto Fernndez his nation would think about internet hosting all the Copa America if Colombia is unable to co-host as a result of of social unrest.
The protests in Colombia started April 28 after President Ivan Duque tried to ram by means of a tax enhance amid a pandemic that has left tens of millions with out work or meals. Although he shortly backed down, protesters have remained on the streets, broadening their struggle to incorporate grievances starting from the decrepit state of Colombias well being care and schooling methods to the gradual implementation of a 2016 peace take care of Marxist rebels
Last week, police and protesters clashed within the Colombian cities of Pereira and Barranquilla, the latter of which was scheduled to carry the Copa America last.
A Copa Libertadores match final week between Colombias Amrica de Cali and Brazils Atltico Mineiro was interrupted a number of instances as a result of of tear gasoline used to disperse the protesters.
The unique Copa America plan had Buenos Aires internet hosting the opening match, a quarterfinal and a semifinal. The cities of Crdoba, Mendoza and Santiago del Estero have been to carry Group A matches
This version of Copa America was going to function a brand new format with 5 groups based mostly in every of the host nations. Group A options Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Group B consists of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The 4 finest groups in every group advance to the knockout stage.
Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, and Australia, each scheduled to play as visitors, determined in February to withdraw from the event because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The determination to take away Colombia as a event host doesn’t guarantee calmer days for Copa America. Argentina has lately hit a file quantity of each day instances and deaths from COVID-19. The South American nation has had greater than 3.4 million instances and greater than 72,000 deaths from the virus.
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