Letter from the President of Conmebol after the postponement of the Libertadores final – Football International – Sports



[ad_1]

The President of the Conmebol, Alejandro Dominguez, has published on the page of the entity a letter in which he talks about the incidents that forced the Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca Juniors.

Last Saturday, River fans attacked the bus that was driving the Boca team to the Monumental stadium for the return leg of the final. After postponing it on three occasions, two on the same Saturday and on a Sunday, the Conmebol decided to leave the match, for the moment, with no date for the dispute, because the conditions to challenge it were not met.

In the CONMEBOL that I preside, football is not won with stones or aggression. It is won by the players on the field. And more in South America with the quality of our players

This Tuesday, Dominguez will receive the presidents of both clubs to decide the date, time and place of the match. In the letter, he clearly indicates his intention to play the game.

This is the full text of the letter

Saturday, November 24, we will remember the history of world football for all the wrong reasons. It was supposed to be a CONMEBOL Libertadores final for memory, the latest in round-trip format. In the end, it was a day that should fill us with sorrow and shame; something that must provoke deep reflection and serious self-criticism in all areas, not just of football, but of society.

Despite the prior agreement of fair play signed by the presidents of the two finalists clubs and all the warnings sent by CONMEBOL to security officials, the stadium and its surroundings have been the scene of irrational violence. and seemingly unpunished towards the players, the public, the children and the families who came peacefully, the authorities, the neighbors. The vandalism events were painful. The barbarism that has taken hold of our football has endangered many lives.

As President of CONMEBOL, I do everything in my power to ensure the integrity of everyone: players to the public who wait patiently for the painful circumstances outside the show and the responsibility of CONMEBOL are resolved. I called the authorities of both clubs, we waited for the medical reports, we examined the institutional protocols and, finally, in agreement with the two presidents, I made the decisions for the sake of all the persons concerned.

On behalf of CONMEBOL, it is also my responsibility to hold those responsible for ensuring the safety of the event and public order. It is clear that the protocols failed and that the authorities did not live up to the circumstances. Now, it remains to act immediately to identify, capture and apply the rigor of justice to those who have caused so much damage.

I also call on leaders of River Plate and Boca Juniors to understand that the responsibility they have in their hands goes far beyond simply defending their colors and the interests of their partners. First and foremost, they have a responsibility towards South American football, often devalued and criticized in our countries, but appreciated in the rest of the world.

The same is true for the media, to whom I demand respect, equanimity and perspective to inform the public properly, report the facts, combat misinformation and unmask self-interested visions and misperceptions.

In the CONMEBOL that I preside, football is not won with stones or aggression. It is won by the players on the field. And more in South America with the quality of our players. In the CONMEBOL that I chair, we play by respecting the rival, by making fair play a vision on the ground, in the forums, in the governing bodies.

Finally, I appeal to all players in South American football to prioritize and join forces to identify, understand and combat the causes and acts of violence that tarnish our lives. soccer. There is much more at stake than a sports title. Either all players in South American football are coming together to end the violence, or violence will be responsible for the end of South American football.

Sports

[ad_2]
Source link