The move of the Copa America to Brazil is facing increasing headwinds. Doubts are also growing in the ranks of the new host.
Now, apparently, Brazil’s soccer stars are also protesting against the controversial Copa America. In view of around 470,000 corona deaths in the country, epidemiologists shaking their heads and a lot of criticism from the participating nations, doubts in the host team are increasing. The short-term relocation of the tournament (June 13th to July 11th) to its own pandemic area has resulted in internal crisis meetings with the five-time soccer world champion.
National coach Tite confirmed that the Selecao players around superstar Neymar had even moved association president Rogerio Caboclo to an emergency meeting on Wednesday. “It was a clear, direct conversation,” reported Tite, but added puzzlingly: “We have an opinion, but we will not express it now.” The 60-year-old promised to announce the decisions of the discussion after the Eliminatorias games against Ecuador on Friday and in Paraguay next Tuesday (local time).
Neymar should prevent Copa
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro presented himself as the savior of the Copa America after Colombia (social unrest) and later Argentina (pandemic) had their host rights withdrawn. Bolsonaro, against whom there were nationwide protests last weekend, is pretty much alone with his opinion. “Neymar, I want to tell you something. You must not agree to this tournament being held in Brazil,” pleaded Senator Renan Calheiros, for example the Brazilian folk hero.
Argentina’s national coach Lionel Scaloni was the first person directly affected to describe the award to Brazil as “alarming and worrying” in view of the corona situation. Chile’s national coach Martin Lasarte described the event in the largest South American country as a “huge risk”, since for him “health comes first”.
European legionaries hold back with statements
In Brazil’s media it is said that especially the legionnaires working in Europe are against a South American championship at the Sugar Loaf in view of the tense coronavirus situation in their home country. It is noticeable that since the official announcement of Brazil as a substitute host on Tuesday, no more players have taken part in the daily press conference with a view to the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
“At first it was a request from me. Today it came from them. At a given time they will speak up,” said Tite, explaining the significant absence of captain Casemiro (Real Madrid) at the press conference the day before the Eliminatorias match against Ecuador in Porto Alegre.
Rio mayor skeptical
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro said that if the corona situation worsened, he wanted to cancel the games in his city. “I don’t see any advantage in playing Copa games. We didn’t ask for it and if you want my opinion this is not the time to organize such a tournament,” said Eduardo Paes.
In addition to Rio with the world-famous Maracana, other arenas for the 2014 World Cup and Goiania are planned as venues for the Copa in the capital Brasilia and Cuiaba. Spectators are not allowed in the stadiums.
Sports Information Service (SID)
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