In this file photo taken on January 24, 2019 the Copa America trophy is pictured during the 2019 Copa America draw in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Argentina's hosting of the Copa America football tournament has been suspended "in view of the current circumstances," CONMEBOL has said, as the country endures a record coronavirus surge.
The football body for the Americas, which last week stripped Colombia of co-hosting duties over deadly unrest, said on Sunday it was considering other offers to hold the tournament.
"CONMEBOL informs that in view of the current circumstances it has decided to suspend the organisation of the Copa America in Argentina," the governing body tweeted.
"CONMEBOL is evaluating the offer of other countries that showed interest in hosting the continental tournament."
The Copa America was originally due to take place last year, but was postponed for 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
READ MORE: Peru to face Brazil in Copa America final after thrashing Chile
A visual explanation of why the Copa America has lost its two host nations (and probably shouldn't go ahead) pic.twitter.com/94lo8ESDr8
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) May 31, 2021
Argentinians not in favour
Officials are expected to meet on Monday to decide on the next move for hosting the tournament.
An Argentine poll published on Friday found that most respondents were against holding the tournament as the country experiences its worst phase of the pandemic so far.
Less than two weeks before the Copa America's scheduled start, Argentina is under a nine-day lockdown and experiencing record daily infections.
The Fernandez administration was hoping that the lockdown that began on May 22 would flatten the curve of infections ahead of the sports event.
Reports from @okdobleamarilla that Conmebol will study proposals from Chile, Paraguay and the USA!
— Diego Montalvan (@DMontalvan) May 31, 2021
But if it is the USA then they may have to delay the start of #CopaAmérica.
Argentina had presented its "strict protocol" to CONMEBOL to host the tournament in its entirety, which involved preparing additional stadiums.
On May 20 CONMEBOL rejected a plea by Colombia to further delay the June 13-July 10 tournament following a wave of protests and social unrest, coupled with an upsurge in Covid-19 cases.
It left Argentina as the sole host, but a survey conducted by pollsters Poliarquia among a representative sample of 1,274 city-dwelling adults, found that 70 percent believe the country should withdraw.
Only 20 percent believed the championship should continue on Argentine soil, and 10 percent were undecided.
READ MORE: Brazil beat Argentina 2-0 to reach Copa America final
Copyright © 2024 TRT World.