March 12 – South American governing body Conmebol has called on FIFA to postpone this month’s World Cup qualifiers on the continent due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
At the end of this month, South America is to embark on the long road to the Qatar World Cup in 2022 with the first set of matches in its marathon qualifying format for the tournament.
Peru-Brazil, Uruguay-Chile and Argentina-Ecuador are among the games that are scheduled in March. On Wednesday, Conmebol published a letter requesting the suspension to FIFA on behalf of its members Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Conmebol argues that the outbreak of the virus could have an impact on South American national teams that have members in European clubs that go into quarantine. Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter Milan have all been subjected to quarantine measures.
Brazil head coach Tite selected both Casemiro and Eder Militao from Real Madrid as well as Juventus’ Alex Sandro for his team’s two World Cup qualifiers. Argentina called up up six Italy-based players, including Juventus’ Paulo Dybala and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
In Argentina, some sporting events have been cancelled until April but nothing in football yet. Brazil, South America’s largest country, has not yet taken measures in that direction.
World federation FIFA is considering the request and a decision is pending.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734791155labto1734791155ofdlr1734791155owedi1734791155sni@o1734791155fni1734791155