By David Gold
July 8 – José Luis Meiszner, the President of the Organising Committee of the 2011 Copa America, has said that the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires is not currently in a condition to host the final of the tournament but will be ready for the July 24 showpiece.
As reported by insideworldfootball, the stadium was the scene of trouble and violence after River Plate’s shock relegation to the second tier of Argentine football last week.
With the pitch in ruins, and other facilities such as the media centre badly damaged, there is increasing doubt over whether the ground can host the final later this month.
River drew 1-1 at home to Belgrano after losing the first leg of the relegation play off 2-0, with the stadium far over capacity, and as a result the ground was closed whilst an investigation was conducted into how this was able to happen.
Meiszner told the Telam News Agency this week that the stadium was not ready “for an event of this magnitude”.
“As organisers, our desire is not to change anything,” he said.
“But today we have a stadium…that is not in condition for the final.
“As President of the Organising Committee, I have to be assured the final can be held there, and there is not much time.”
After having conducted an inspection, Meiszner said: “We were worried about it [but] the mere possibility of having to think about a change [of venue] would have been pathetic.
“It’s going to be tight but we’ll get there.”
The Copa America kicked off earlier this week and in an effort to decentralise Argentine football from Buenos Aires, the capital is only set to host the final on July 24.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734875675labto1734875675ofdlr1734875675owedi1734875675sni@d1734875675log.d1734875675ivad1734875675