The Argentinian FA suspended all domestic football tournaments throughout the country, keeping in mind the 2021 Copa America, which was initially set to happen last year.
Argentina has suspended all domestic competitions – including the semi-finals and finals of the Primera División – amid the rising COVID-19 cases. The decision was made as a precautionary measure keeping in mind the Copa America is just weeks away from going live.
“The Argentine Football Association informs the public that in order to follow the health measures announced by President Alberto Fernandez yesterday, aimed at combating the second wave of the Covid 19 pandemic that we are experiencing, it has decided to suspend programming of matches in all the local competitions that it organizes from 8:00 p.m. today until Sunday, May 30, 2021 inclusive.”
“In this sense, we will work together with the governments of the provinces of San Juan, Santiago del Estero and the authorities of the Professional Football League in order to reschedule the semi-finals and the grand final of the Copa de la Liga in the originally planned scenarios.”
Argentinian FA chairman Alberto Fernandez said.
For the first time in 105 years, the tournament was set to be hosted jointly by Colombia and Argentina. The opening match, quarterfinal and semi-final, was decided to happen in Buenos Aires. However, after Colombia asked the CONMEBOL to postpone the tournament due to civilian unrest, the governing body rejected its request stating:
“For reasons related to the international calendar of competitions and the logistics of the tournament, it is impossible to transfer the Copa América 2021 to the month of November.”
After a few clashes in the Colombian cities of Pereira and Barranquilla, the latter was scheduled to host the Copa America final. Subsequently, the CONMEBOL stripped Colombia from its status as co-hosts.
The original Copa America with a new format slated 15 games for Colombia, and we would have seen them host a Northern Group featuring Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. Argentina was set to host 13 games including a Southern Group featuring Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
“CONMEBOL guarantees the realization of the 2021 Copa America and in the coming days will inform on where the games originally scheduled to be held in Colombia will be played,”
their statement said.
Argentina will face Chile at Estadio Monumental on June 14, the first day of the tournament. The hosts last won the Copa America trophy in 1993 by defeating Mexico 2-1, which was also the first time a non-CONMEBOL nation played in a Copa America final. Uruguay and reigning champions Brazil are among the other favorites to win the trophy.
