“Brazil will host the Copa America,” President Jair Bolsonaro first said at an event at the Ministry of Health in Brasilia, assuring that at least four of the country’s 27 states were ready to host meetings. His chief of staff Luiz Eduardo Ramos, who sowed doubt on Monday saying nothing was decided yet, tweeted: “Confirmed: Copa America will take place in Brazil”. He then said that the matches will be played in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Goias and the Federal District, that of the capital Brasilia.
This announcement will not, however, calm the strong criticisms that have been heard since the surprise announcement on Monday by Conmebol, the football body in South America, of the organization of the competition by Brazil, the second largest country. most bereaved in the world by the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 465,000 dead. Colombia and Argentina had already thrown in the towel from the organization of the cup.
A madness”
“On behalf of South American football, I would like to thank President Jair Bolsonaro for his efficient decision-making,” Conmebol President Alejandro Domínguez said on Twitter. In his message, he stressed that the tournament will take place without the presence of the public and according to draconian “health protocols”.
In contrast, at least five governors had immediately refused to host matches for health reasons. Sao Paulo’s Joao Doria, a fierce opponent of President Bolsonaro, said Monday he would not oppose it until he backs down on Tuesday.
Since the World Cup organized in 2014, many brand new stadiums today belong to clubs, municipalities, or states. “It is a real madness to organize such an event here”, affirmed the epidemiologist José David Urbaez, of the Center of Infectiology of Brasilia.
“The worst phases (of the pandemic in Brazil) in 2020 were three to four times smaller than what we see today. We have this false impression that things have improved. The reality is that we are still in a terrible phase of very rapid spread, “he told AFP.
“Death Championship”
Brazil experienced a particularly deadly second wave, with the death toll dropping from 200,000 to 400,000 from January to April. Restrictions began to ease last month when the number of daily deaths stabilized below 2,000. But according to experts, the increase in contamination and hospital occupancy rates indicate a third wave to come in the coming weeks, fueled by the spread of new variants. So in the middle of the Copa América …
A parliamentary committee of inquiry in the Senate has been looking for a month into the chaotic management of the health crisis by the government. Tuesday, the rapporteur of this commission, Renan Calheiros, appealed to the biggest star of Brazilian football, Neymar, to ask him to boycott this tournament which he describes as “championship of death”. “Neymar, I want to address you. Do not agree with the realization of this Copa America in Brazil. The tournament that we must win is that of vaccination,” he said during a hearing of the commission of inquiry.
The Brazilian players, gathered at the Teresopolis training center, near Rio to prepare for Friday’s match against Ecuador on behalf of the World Cup-2022 qualifiers did not express themselves on the subject, the daily press conferences were canceled.
Sanitary protocol and in camera
The Brazilian states which had given their agreement to host meetings demanded strict compliance with health protocols. The Bolsonaro government had already set its conditions at Conmebol: a total closed door, as well as small delegations and all vaccinated.
To date, 21% of Brazilians have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 11% have been fully immunized.
Beyond the health restrictions, which vary from state to state, the organizers will have to take into account the congestion of matches in many cities: the Brazilian championship has just resumed and will not be interrupted during the Copa América.
And a legal doubt still remains. Several left-wing deputies have appealed to the Supreme Court to request the cancellation of the competition.
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