Alejandro Domínguez cleared up the doubts regarding the organization and realization of the Copa América 2021. In dialogue with the
6AM Hoy por Hoy program
on Caracol Radio, the president of Conmebol
ratified Argentina as the host city with Colombia for the event to be held. from June 13 to July 10,
after rumors of the possible resignation of that country as host of the tournament following statements by Alberto Fernández, President of that nation, about concern about the coronavirus pandemic.
"At no time was it understood that it put at risk the participation of Argentina as the host of the Copa América," commented the president of the South American Football Confederation, thanking the Governments of Argentina and Colombia for their actions so that the Copa América and
referred to obtaining vaccines to guarantee the development of the tournament
, avoiding new problems with European clubs for the transfer of players, as happened on the FIFA date in March, which ended up being postponed in South America.
The Cup with or without public:
"If the health authorities of both countries or one of them assumes a policy that
there should be no public in the stadiums, the America's Cup is the same.
We are guaranteeing a protocol plus the possibility that the players arrive immunized. The pandemic has a behavior that plagues the whole world, but we have to move on and show that there is a future, we can work together and be an example. Soccer helps a lot, it is a very precious entertainment. "
He ratified Argentina as the headquarters:
"
I think that President Fernández was taken out of context
, being in his position anyone would say the same since the health of the people is a priority. At no time was it understood that he put Argentina's participation as headquarters at risk America's Cup. Nor was there an official communication between us about any concern about the organization of the Cup. On the contrary, a constant reaffirmation, we are working on the protocols, with the venues, with the hotels, with migration. The Cup it is going to be carried out respecting the health policies implemented by the governments. If there was the possibility that there would be an audience, even if it was reduced, it would be nicer, but if it were not the case, it will be played without an audience. "
South American football vaccination plan:
"We have a plan through the Member Associations so that players who are outside the continent have the possibility of voluntarily getting vaccinated. Once summoned, Europe will not be able to oppose the arrival of our players. Let's go. To have the two best cups in the world simultaneously, with the luck of the time difference that will allow us to watch football almost 24 hours a day, is the dream of the fans. It is planned that the vaccines will arrive next Wednesday in Uruguay and will continue on challenging job of
sending them to each country and getting immunization started
. "
Obtaining the vaccines from Conmebol:
"This is a batch that was produced exclusively for South American football, it did not belong to any country. The most important thing is that we can have security in the environment for this year's great challenge that is the Copa América of Argentina and Colombia ".
Women's football, included in this vaccination phase:
"In the first phase, women's football is included. We must show professionalism and seriousness. We wanted 150,000 vaccines, but there were 50,000 available that the Sinovac company gave us for free to guarantee the America's Cup; That was the first big surprise because we were willing to pay. We made the request to buy another lot of 50,000 and we will continue working on that, hopefully it will be given to us. "