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Journalism of Courage
The South American soccer federation is set to confront FIFA in a final effort to convince world soccer’s governing body to overturn a recent ban on international matches at high altitude.
CONMEBOL will present its position to the FIFA medical commission director, and FIFA’s executive committee will review the issue during a meeting Wednesday at its headquarters in Zurich.
CONMEBOL President Nicolas Leoz and the other South American voting members of FIFA’s executive committee – Julio Grondona of Argentina and Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil – are expected to present the ‘unanimous decision’ of the South American confederation to oppose the ban.
“They will debate the matter once again. Beyond that nothing else can be said,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren told the Associated Press.
“A decision could be taken then, but so far there have been no decision taken.”
Bolivia President Evo Morales, who is leading a popular campaign to overturn the ban is also flying into discuss the issue with FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Morales will be joined on the visit by the mayor of Cuzco, Peru and Bogota, Colombia, both excluded by the ruling along with other cities in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile.
Citing concern for the players and an unfair home advantage for highland teams, FIFA last month prohibited international matches above 2,500m. The decision has caused a furore in several Latin countries because it rules out matches in the capitals of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and the stadiums of leading teams in Peru, Chile and Mexico.
