The Mexican Football (soccer) Federation has offered Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) three options so that the Mexican team can play in the eighth finals of the Copa Libertadores, without raising the swine flu contagion risk which has so far left over 150 likely deaths in Mexico.
“The first option is to play them in Mexico as usual. The second would be to play behind closed doors (no fans). While the third would be to seek an alternative venue,” said Decio de Maria, General Secretary, Mexican Football Federation.
De Maria informed that this was his response to Nicolas Leoz, President of Conmebol.
Conmebol, which represents the football federations of ten countries, last Tuesday asked the Mexican Football Federation for guarantees for the teams that would have to travel to Mexico to play Copa Libertadores matches. The eighth finals were scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday 30th April).
The Concanaf decided to postpone the final soccer match between Atlante and Cruz Azul, which was to be played today (Wednesday 29th April), until May 8th. The winner of the Liga De Campeones (Champions League) becomes the champion soccer club in Mexico for that year. It is the equivalent of being the winner of the Premier League or the FA Cup in England.
Sports fans were anxiously waiting to find out whether the swine flu outbreak would cause a match behind closed doors or a postponement.