The complicated crossroads for the Brazilian team 2:59
(CNN) -
The players and staff of the Brazilian team posted a letter on their social media accounts on Wednesday criticizing the organization of the Copa América tournament, but assuring that they would participate if the tournament went ahead.
The championship, which is the largest international soccer tournament in South America, will begin on June 13 in Brazil.
«We are a cohesive group, but with different ideas.
For various reasons, whether humanitarian or professional, we are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Copa América by Conmebol [South American Football Confederation], whether it is subsequently held in Chile or even in Brazil, "said the unsigned document. .
"All recent events lead us to believe in an inadequate process in its realization."
The team, however, emphasized that "at no point" did they want to "make this a political discussion."
"We are against the organization of the Copa América, but we will never say no to the Brazilian team," the statement concluded.
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The players were concerned about possible retaliation from Conmebol and the managers and leaders of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in response to the letter, according to Brazilian press reports.
Conmebol, in accordance with the federal government of Brazil backed by President Jair Bolsonaro, announced last week that Brazil would be the new host of the Copa América due to health and political problems involving Argentina and Colombia, the original hosts of the tournament. .
The change of venue for the Copa América has generated criticism, both in the South American football community and in the Brazilian public.
Concerns have been raised about the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil.
The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil will evaluate a request to suspend the celebration of the Copa América in the country
According to the World Health Organization, the country has registered close to 17 million confirmed cases and 473,0000 deaths.
More than 65 million doses of vaccines have been administered.
The CBF is also currently facing management problems as President Rogerio Caboclo was temporarily removed from office on Sunday after allegations of sexual harassment by a confederation employee.
Brazilian press reports note that players and staff were dissatisfied with the way Caboclo handled the Copa América issue, adding that his dismissal helped calm the locker room.
Manager Adenor Bachi Tite denied that he would resign if Caboclo remained in office at a press conference early Wednesday, moments after the public letter was released.
I thought about working.
I am not a hypocrite.
I'm not alienated and I know things happen.
But I know how to prioritize, ”Tite said.
The 2020 edition of the Copa América was postponed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga defended on Tuesday the government's decision to host the Copa América, saying: “There is no evidence that [the Copa América] increases the level of contamination to covid-19 among the athletes ».
Queiroga made the comments while testifying in a Senate investigation into the Brazilian government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The minister argued that the last edition of the Brazilian national soccer championship that ended in February this year went smoothly, claiming that only one case of covid-19 was linked to competition.
However, in a report published in March, the CBF said the championship accounted for hundreds of cases among soccer players in Brazil.
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