By Samindra Kunti
June 8 – Not everything is rosy in the corruption-free garden of the US-hosted centenary edition of the Copa America. President of the Uruguayan FA Wilmar Valdez has claimed it was a mistake for the USA to host the tournament.
The first round of matches at the Copa America proved to be a slow burning fuse for the tournament as organisers, multiple times, failed to execute the national anthems and goals came at a premium. But it is controversy that often ignites tournaments and the Uruguayan fury could fuel the Copa America flame.
In the opening game the hosts USA slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Colombia while the following day Brazil utterly disappointed with a scoreless draw against Ecuador and reigning champions Chile suffered a loss at the hands of Argentina, who, without Messi who had been in Spain in court on charges of tax evasion, looked strong.
But it was the match between Uruguay and Mexico which was almost pre-destined to be an emotional affair with the massive support Mexico bring to any match in the US. Things didn’t start well for the Uruguayans who were treated to a rendition of the Chilean national anthem instead of their own.
In the subsequent feisty encounter the Uruguayans had a player sent off and conceded two goals in the last nine minutes. Eventually, Uruguay lost 3-1.
Valdez reacted furiously. In an interview with radio station Sport 890, he said that the South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, should not have chosen the United States to host the 100th anniversary of the world’s oldest continental competition.
The Copa America was first played in 1916 with Uruguay winning the inaugural tournament. For the first time, the tournament has been expanded to a 16-team format with the inclusion of six teams from CONCACAF, football’s governing body in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
“CONMEBOL got it wrong,” Valdez said. “It erred in celebrating a tournament like this, the oldest in the world, South American football, here in the United States where yesterday it became very clear that it is arranged for Mexico.”
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