Conmebol strengthens its fight against the coronavirus: Alejandro Domínguez asked FIFA to prioritize health over politics

In the middle of the uncertainty that reigns in the soccer before the advance of the world pandemic of coronavirus, without knowing if it will be possible to complete the seasons in which each league and after having suspended the Euro Cup and the Copa América 2020 that Argentina and Colombia were going to organize, it turns out difficult to look ahead to restructure calendars and tournaments. In that context, Alejandro Domínguez, president of the Conmebol, believed that it was time to put the focus on health and not on politics.

Dominguez, head of South American football since 2016, described the proposal he made recently as inappropriate Gianni Infantino, president of the FIFA, to modify the format of the tournaments to complete them and avoid the economic crisis that the COVID-19 in your industry.

"I was very surprised by President Infantino's statements. This is not the time to be talking about planning. At this time we must talk about how to help, how to support the players, the clubs, the member associations. Prioritize health at this time over politics"Said the Paraguayan leader in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.

In the same line, Dominguez warned that "There is no rush to return" to the activity and, despite the fact that a week ago there was talk that continental tournaments could be resumed from May 5, now avoided setting a date for the resumption of soccer in South America.

In fact the entity itself led by Alexander Dominguez released this week an emotional spot in which he reiterates the importance of complying with the quarantine. "There is no rush to play football again, because when we play again we want to see everyone healthy on the field. Play local, #QuedateEnCasa ”, is the message that the South American Football Confederation shared on its social networks.

With sport practically paralyzed all over the world and without a light at the end of the tunnel, Infantino had warned about the recession in sports. "Maybe we can reform world football by taking a step back"said the president of the FIFA to the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian-Swiss leader spoke of "Different formats", that contain "Perhaps fewer teams, but more even".

When asked about these sayings of Infantino, Dominguez revealed that until now these ideas had not been put forward together with other managers: "Particularly, if necessary, it would be important for him to socialize what his ideas areBut it seems to me that this is not the time to be talking about the future because for me in any case it is a debate that should take place in a long time. Now the priority is that we accompany this moment and that in solidarity we all get ahead. "

The Conmebol announced in the last hours that it will advance a total of USD 65 million to clubs for prizes for participating in Libertadores Cup Y South American 2020 as a way to ease your finances. It also made available to the Paraguayan Ministry of Health the Centennial Convention Center, located in the city of Luque, for the possible needs that evolution may generate COVID-19 in the country.

“There is no rush to return. The most important thing is that we are sure that we can compete and that there is health above all. It is important that we all be when we return to the field, "he said Alejandro Domínguez, who had already asked FIFA to suspend the start of the South American Qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup 2022 and awaits a response to the proposal to complete these matches in April 2022.

"The idea would be that allow us to move and make the FIFA calendar more flexible so that eventually Conmebol can extend their playoffs to the extent necessary until that date, "he emphasized.