Saturday July 4, 2009
Copa Libertadores final on despite swine flu
BUENOS AIRES: Next week's first-leg match of the Copa Libertadores final will go ahead as planned in La Plata, Argentina, despite a swine flu outbreak that is blamed in the deaths of at least 44 people in the country.
The governing body of South American football - CONMEBOL - said Friday the match between Argentine club Estudiantes and Brazilian club Cruzeiro would be played Wednesday.
It said the second-leg game would be played as scheduled on July 15 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to determine the winner of Latin America's most important club competition.
"We haven't received any notice from anybody - or requests _ about playing the final," said Eduardo Deluca, the general secretary of CONMEBOL.
Cruzeiro said in a statement that it intended to play the match unless Argentine health officials stepped in to stop it.
"The swine flu epidemic in Argentina will not frighten off Cruzeiro from the first leg of the finals of the Copa America," the club said in a statement.
Club president Zeze Perrella said Cruzeiro would abide by any ruling made by CONMEBOL. "Cruzeiro wants to play with or without the swine flu," Perrella said.
"We have to show that we are determined to be champions."
Cruzeiro reached the final on Thursday after eliminating fellow Brazilian club Gremio 5-3 on aggregate over two games.
Estudiantes eliminated Uruguay club Nacional on Wednesday to advance.
Two months ago, Sao Paulo of Brazil and Nacional refused to play Copa Libertadores matches in Mexico during an outbreak of swine flu in that country.
"We're sorry about the situation the country is going through, but the dates are set," Estudiantes vice president Marcelo Malaspina said.
"All precautions are being taken so the game can be played in a relaxed atmosphere." - AP
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