After his emergency hospitalization for cardiac arrhythmia on the pitch at more than 3600m altitude in La Paz, Tite denounced the “absurdity” of the CONMEBOL regulation that requires a presence on the premises one day before. A real “lack of respect for science” for the Flamengo coach.
Enough to revive the debate on football matches at altitude. Hospitalized urgently for a cardiac arrhythmia felt on the Bolivar pitch, located at more than 3600m above sea level in the city of La Paz, Titus was furious against the South American football authorities this Thursday.
In a press conference after Flamengo’s victory against Bahia (1-0), the coach of the Red and Blacks spoke in detail about his cardiac irregularity that occurred last week, during the qualification for the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores against the Bolivians of Club Bolivar. A two-day hospitalization that also forced him to miss the clash against Bragantino on Sunday.
“Playing in La Paz is very difficult. I wouldn’t use the term inhumane, but it brings a series of important problems. If they don’t impose breaks (on the pitch in La Paz), there will be problems,” the 63-year-old coach first pointed out.
The former Brazil coach (winner of the Copa America in 2019) was blunt and denounced an “absurd” rule of CONMEBOL, which he believes is the main cause of the incident: “It is absurd that teams are forced to be there a day earlier, it is a lack of respect for science. Everyone, the doctors, know that from 6, 7 or 8 hours (on site), you start to get a headache.”
CONMEBOL sanction for late arrival
Aware of the demands made by the Estadio Hernando Siles del Bolivar stadium, the second highest stadium in the world, the Flamengo team had arrived “less than 6 hours early” in the city of La Paz, CONMEBOL said in a statement. Although this late arrival did not prevent the Brazilian coach from being hospitalized, it will still mean sanctions.
Released from the hospital last Sunday, “Tite has showed good clinical progress thanks to the treatment he received. The arrhythmia has been reversed and the heart rate has returned to normal,” the club said in a statement. Flamengo, fourth in the Championship with 41 points, is five points behind leader Botafogo.
