Official: Conmebol asked FIFA to postpone the start of the Qualifiers due to the coronavirus

[Inkriql]

Tonight, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) officially requested FIFA to suspend the South American qualifying rounds that were due to start in late March, with a view to the Qatar 2022 World Cup, following the expansion of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In a note signed by the secretary of the continental body, José Astigarribia, the Conmebol asks for the postponement of the start of the activity, scheduled for Thursday, March 26.

The agency supports that "the South American teams are facing the possibility of not having the summoned players from Europe, as a result of which, coming from countries with a high rate of contagion, they could be quarantined."

In this way "it would be impossible for them to be available to their national teams," added the text.

Therefore, “the ten member countries; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela have asked Conmebol to submit to FIFA's consideration the request to postpone the start of the qualifying rounds ... in order to safeguard the health of all the football family ”.

On the first date of the South American competition, Argentina must face Ecuador on Thursday 26 on the Boca Juniors court, while for the second day, in La Paz and with the return of Lionel Messi, the team led by Lionel Scaloni would be measured against the local Bolivia.

Italy is in virtual quarantine, with travel bans and all suspended soccer activity. Spain has announced that all matches for the next two weeks will be held with empty stadiums.

Much of the South American footballers who make up their respective teams work in European countries. For example, in the case of Argentina, his coach Lionel Scaloni summoned six players who work in Italy, the country in Europe most affected by the pandemic.

In recent hours, in dialogue with Infobae, Scaloni had confessed his fears about the coronavirus. "The most recommendable thing is to suspend the Playoffs," said the coach of the Argentine team, who was shocked by Paulo Dybala's account of how they are living the situation in Italy.