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Colombia Slams Door On Mexican Soccer Clubs
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Colombia Slams
Door On Mexican Soccer Clubs
Add Colombia to the latest nation who wants
nothing to do with Mexico. The Mexican
Football Federation and CONMEBOL had reached
an apparent agreement for Mexican clubs
Guadalajara and San Luis to host Copa
Libertadores matches in Bogota. But because
of the swine flu outbreak that originated in
Mexico, the Colombian government slammed the
door on the arrangement.
"We're not enemies of football; we love the
sport," Colombian Health Secretary Hector
Zambrano said. "But in this moment, what
matters most is public safety."
The swine flu has claimed more than 150
lives and affected more than 2,000 people in
Mexico, according to published reports, but
has spread across the globe. The World
Health Organization (WHO) has raised its
pandemic alert to a rating of five, with the
highest level of six a full-blown pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization,
11 nations have confirmed cases of the swine
flu, but Colombia is not one of them. And
Colombian officials apparently are not
taking any chances with allowing Mexican
clubs to participate in matches on their
soil.
Argentina has also shunned Mexico and has
suspended all air travel with Mexico.
Guadalajara played a league match in Mexico
City and traveled directly to Santiago,
Chile, afterward for a game against Everton.
Chivas players said they were treated
anything but kindly by the Chileans as
players claimed they were jeered, ridiculed
and harassed while out in public.
There was no immediate plans for games
involving Chivas and San Luis. FMF President
Justino Compean had said his first option
was to play games as normal followed by
playing games in Mexico with the doors
closed to the public and thirdly an
alternative site. With the apparent third
option now in danger, it remains to be seen
whether or not the clubs will be able to
participate at all. |
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