On today’s EFD Explained, we take a look at why this summer’s Copa America has attracted so much controversy.
Football in South America has long been associated with chaos. The sport attracts a level of passion rarely seen in Europe – it’s very much a way of life for millions, is literally a matter of life and death to some, and is deeply political. From the murder of Colombian defender Andrés Escobar in 1994, to the riots which marred the 2018 Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate, tension surrounding the sport has often boiled over and has sometimes become bloody. As far back as 2008, an estimated 232 people had died in incidents related to football in Argentina alone, while corruption, match-fixing and organised crime has also been an issue in the region.
So it’s perhaps no surprise then, that at a time of heightened political tension on the continent, and in the midst of a global pandemic, that this year’s Copa America has become embroiled in controversy, with its last-minute move to Brazil, one of the world’s biggest covid hotspots, receiving heavy criticism from fans, journalists and the players themselves. But why was the build-up to this summer’s tournament so chaotic, and why did it almost not go ahead at all? Let’s find out.
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By Euro Football Daily
June 20, 2021