Xtra Time Web Desk: With just 9 days to go before the start of Copa America, there seems to be fresh troubles cropping up for the organizers. Senior Brazilian footballers including captain Casemiro is considering to pull out of the tournament owing to the COVID-19 situation in the country. Brazil’s coach Tite confirmed that players are doubtful and have discussed the issue whether or not they should play in the Copa America on home soil during this time. The footballers don’t want to make any public statements on the matter until after their World Cup qualifying games against Ecuador and Paraguay.
“They have an opinion, they exposed it to the president and they will expose it to the public at the appropriate time. That is why our captain Casemiro is absent today,” Tite told a news conference when asked if his players had requested permission to skip the June 13-July 10 continental championship.
Brazil is set to play Ecuador on Friday and Paraguay next Tuesday in South American qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
The South American soccer confederation (CONMEBOL) decided to shift the Copa America to Brazil after Argentina expressed its unwillingness to host the event due to the surge in COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was supposed to be co-hosted by Argentina and Colombia. Colombia was removed as a co-host last month amid street protests against President Ivan Duque.