Colombia asks CONMEBOL to postpone Copa America

BOGOTA -- The Colombian government said Thursday it would ask the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to postpone the Copa America amid surging coronavirus cases and civil unrest.

The tournament - which will also feature matches in Argentina - is due to begin on June 13, having been postponed by a year because of the pandemic.

Colombia is scheduled to host fixtures in four cities, with the final earmarked for Barranquilla's Estadio Metropolitano on July 10.

"The Colombian government will formally request to the South American Football Confederation, via the Colombian Football Federation, the postponement of the Copa America. We think the most important thing about an event of this magnitude is public attendance," sports minister Ernesto Lucena said in a statement.

"At this moment the impossibility of having fans will mean the tournament is not the event we all dream of it being."

He added that the event would ideally take place when stadiums can at least reopen at 50 percent of their capacity.

CONMEBOL did not immediately respond to the comments.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez this week said his country would consider staging the entire Copa America if Colombia could no longer be a co-host.

Colombia is currently grappling with a third wave of COVID-19 infections and many cities have strict nightly curfews while large public gatherings remain banned.

The health ministry has reported more than three million confirmed cases of the virus and over 83,000 fatalities.

In addition to the pandemic, the Andean country is in the midst of violent anti-government protests that have claimed the lives of at least 42 people since April 28, according to the attorney general's office.

The public body has said it is also investigating the disappearance of 134 people during the demonstrations, which continued on Thursday.

Copa Libertadores matches in Cali and Barranquilla last week were marred by images of players and officials visibly struggling with the effects of tear gas released to disperse protesters.