The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, has announced the relocation of three tournament matches from Bolivia to Asunción. The Directorate of Competitions and Operations made this decision in response to a serious political crisis and widespread social unrest currently affecting Bolivia. Consequently, fixtures for both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana scheduled for 18, 19 and 20 May will now take place in a neutral venue in the capital of Paraguay to ensure the safety of all participants during the Bolivia crisis.
According to the continent’s football governing body, this proactive measure underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity and security of its prestigious club competitions. The decision to move the games was made swiftly to provide clarity for the teams involved and to avoid potential disruptions. The choice of Asunción is logical, as Paraguay not only hosts CONMEBOL’s headquarters, but also possesses the necessary infrastructure to stage international matches on short notice.
Rescheduled fixture details
The first of the relocated matches involves Bolivian club Always Ready and Mirassol from Brazil in a Copa Libertadores tie. This game is now scheduled to be played on Tuesday, 19 May, with a kick-off time of 21:00. The new venue for this fixture is the Estadio La Huerta, which is the home ground of Club Libertad in Asunción.
A day later, the same stadium will host a Copa Sudamericana match. The fixture between Independiente of Bolivia and the Brazilian club Botafogo will now proceed on Wednesday, 20 May, also at 21:00.
The focus of CONMEBOL remains on allowing the tournament to continue with minimal interruption despite the external challenges.
Further matches moved to Paraguay
The series of relocated games concludes on Thursday, 21 May, with another Copa Sudamericana fixture. This match will see Bolivian side Blooming face Carabobo from Venezuela. The game is set for a 21:30 kick-off time and will also be held at the Estadio La Huerta. This means the stadium will host three international matches in three consecutive days, a testament to the quality of its facilities and the organisational capacity of Club Libertad.
For the Bolivian teams, the loss of home fixtures represents a significant disadvantage. Playing in their home country, often at high altitude, provides an advantage that is now nullified.
Ensuring safety and competition continuity
The term used in the official announcement, “grave political crisis and social convulsion,” points to a volatile situation within Bolivia. In such circumstances, sporting events can pose security risks for players, officials, and spectators. By moving these matches to a neutral location, the organisation aims to uphold the principles of fair play and ensure the tournament calendar can proceed as planned.
Football authorities will continue to monitor the Bolivia crisis before making decisions on any future fixtures that may be scheduled to take place in the country.
