While the country finds itself in a difficult period, dozens of supporters demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the Colombian Federation on Tuesday in Bogota, so that the Copa America, co-organized with Argentina from June 13, did not does not take place.
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“The ball cannot conceal politics, nor the scenes of violence which are taking place at the moment”, said Jordan Santiago, leader of the Yellow Fever supporter group. “We football fans are tired. We will join the people ” to ask that “The Copa América does not take place”, he added.
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Already 42 dead in Colombia due to protests
Around him, supporters of America, Millonarios and other teams of the country protested to the rhythm of the drums and dressed in the colors of their club or the national team. For the second time in its history, Colombia is due to host this continental tournament, the first co-organized by two countries.
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But since April 28, demonstrations against the government, harshly repressed by the security forces, have shaken the country, and have left at least 42 dead, including a police officer, and more than 1,600 injured. Bogota, Medellin and Cali, among the cities where the matches are to be played, have been the scene of violent disturbances. Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana matches had to be moved elsewhere in the country, even to Paraguay.
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Some others were interrupted because of tear gas fired by the police during clashes with demonstrators near the stadiums, as in Barranquilla, where on July 10 is to be played the final of the Copa America. “How are they going to organize a match under these conditions? […] There is no guarantee », said Jordan Santiago, a 25-year-old nurse.
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Argentina ready to host tournament on their own
For his part, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez assured that his country was ready to organize the tournament alone, in the event of Colombia’s withdrawal. “We can organize the whole Copa America in Argentina, as long as everyone strictly respects the conditions of control and protocol” sanitary facilities, he told a local radio station.
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Argentina and Colombia, like all countries in South America, are experiencing a 3rd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Argentina recorded its highest number of new cases (35,543) and deaths (745) in 24 hours on Tuesday. Colombia for its part has more than three million cases in total, including more than 82,000 deaths since March 2020.
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Thursday in Asuncion, a virtual meeting of the board of Conmebol, the governing body of South American football, will be devoted to the Copa America.
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