No Country for These Men

By: Andrea | May 2nd, 2009

The H1N1 flu is causing so many problems, and not just to regular people. The CONMEBOL has decided to postpone Chivas’ and San Luis’ games scheduled to play May 6th as they try to find an alternate place to play. Several countries have rejected the opportunity to host both teams in their country including Colombia and Chile. The Colombian Federation had approved the games, but the decision was reversed when the Colombian government said it would not lend its stadiums.

After not being able to guarantee a definitive solution that would be in the best interests of the clubs, associations and CONMEBOL, the games have consequently been postponed one week

Another option in case no country wants to play host to the teams is to have them face each other in the round of 16.

“We’re going to keep looking and if we can’t get(another country) they’ll have to play off between themselves. It can be an alternative that would completely vary the calender of the Copa,” said Francisco Figueredo Brítez the Executive Director of CONMEBOL.

Meanwhile, Pineda is calling the FMF to step up for the rights of the Mexican clubs.

“It’s regrettable how the CONMEBOL acts. We’re used to it because we’re a guest country. However, we’re a guest that leaves a lot of money. I think that we should also be more picky and put our own conitions as well,” said Pineda.

“If we acted that sensitive…There are more illnesses in South America than in Mexico, so we have to become more stringent in that sense and put forth our own conditions because we’re a guest, but a guest that leaves them with a lot of money an it’s time that we ask for more favorable conditions for the country(Mexico).”

I have to completely agree with Pineda. Everywhere in the world there are so many possibilities of getting a disease, yet CONMEBOL is treating the Mexican teams like lepers. They’re not going to bring the diseases just because they’re Mexican. In case officials haven’t thought about it, clubs aren’t going to risk their players. It’s not in their best interest and they’d be idiots to do so. If one of their players died they’d lose money, and if were of the H1N1 flu then they’d probably cause an eruption at the club among the other players.

As much as I hate it, I think that the Mexican teams will have to leave this tournament, at least this edition. If they have the round of 16 played off between them, the quarter finals will present the same problem. To me, it seems like teams are using the situation to get rid of some rivals. But seriously, Pineda is right. The guest teams leave the tournament money. How many more people are interested in watching the Libertadores just because a team like Chivas is there? I’d be willing to be that a lot more do.

And Hector Reynoso has also apologized to Penco of Everton for the incident midweek. \ ~~The club twisted his arm and made him apologized~~. Psh, personally I would have licked the player’s cheek. Or hugged him. Or slobbered on him. Just to give him more of a scare. But I guess I’m just more immature that way.