News of conmebol

Boca and River fail to get going in Libertadores semi-finals

09-01-2021 08:37 Xeneize retain hopes of advancing, although they will have to up their efforts significantly. For the Millo, only a near-miracle will secure passage to Rio.

by Dan Edwards

2021: THE YEAR IN PREVIEW

What lies ahead for Argentine football in 2021

02-01-2021 08:57 Your (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) guide to what lies ahead for Argentine football in the next 12 months.

by Dan Edwards

International football

Messi fires Argentina to World Cup qualifying win over Ecuador

09-10-2020 01:16 Argentina struggle to break down an organised and physical Ecuador side, but emerge with a 1-0 win thanks to Lionel Messi's 12th minute penalty.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Little to shout about as Argentina see off Ecuador

09-10-2020 01:12 The stands were silent at the La Bombonera on Thursday night and Lionel Messi and Co responded with a suitably muted performance against Ecuador.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD FOOTBALL

World Cup fixture pile-up overshadows FIFA Congress

17-09-2020 16:43 When the 70th FIFA Congress meets on Friday, one issue will very much be on members’ minds – how to find time in the football calendar for hundreds of qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup.

by Anthony Harwood

REGIONAL FOOTBALL

Officials give green light for Copa Libertadores, Sudamericana matches

27-08-2020 18:46 Government officials approve protocol for visiting teams playing in Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana tournaments, which are due to restart in couple of weeks.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

First tentative steps toward ‘normality’ for the national game

08-08-2020 10:07 Argentine football's stars are finally preparing to shed the paunch and unwelcome kilos as they head back to training.

by Dan Edwards

GRONDONA’S LEGACY

Don Julio’s shadow still looms large over Argentine football

01-08-2020 10:01 Six years on from his death, Julio Grondona continues to live long in the public’s memory. That is a measure of his towering presence – but also the inability of his successors to clean up the mess he left behind.

by Dan Edwards

COPA LIBERTADORES

Fernández questions if local clubs should play in Copa Libertadores

30-07-2020 23:14 President asks if local clubs should be travelling to participate in the region’s most prestigious football tournament, given the advance of Covid-19 in Latin America.

FOOTBALL & THE PANDEMIC

CONMEBOL forces Argentina to step up plans for return of football

18-07-2020 10:12 While many South American leagues have already retaken the field or are preparing to restart leagues, in Argentina even the return to training remains pending. That, however, hasn’t stopped CONMEBOL.

by Dan Edwards

'El Presidente'

FIFA 'mafia' depicted in new Amazon Prime satire from Argentine creator

04-06-2020 01:44 New series "El Presidente," brought to life by Argentine writer Armando Bo, is a witheringly satirical take on the 2015 "Fifagate" corruption scandal. Oh, and it's 'narrated' by Julio Grondona, from beyond the grave...

BOCA-RIVER RIVALRY

The Superclásico that took the Boca-River rivalry to new heights

16-05-2020 10:00 Thursday marked the fifth anniversary of the infamous Boca-River Libertadores pepper-spray incident, an event that pushed the rivals’ animosity to almost-unseen levels.

by Dan Edwards

Football

CONMEBOL confirms World Cup qualifying to begin in September

23-04-2020 12:27 South American qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, will begin in September, the region's governing body CONMEBOL said on Friday.

FIXTURE PILE-UP

World Cup qualifiers for Qatar 2022 'must restart by September'

10-04-2020 00:39 National teams in South America will have to restart their qualifying campaigns by September, otherwise they won't be able to have every game finished in time for Qatar 2022 World Cup.

by Anthony Harwood

QATAR 2022

Argentina to start Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying against Ecuador

18-12-2019 17:25 South America holds four direct spots to the Qatar World Cup in 2022. Each team plays home and away, a total of 18 matches.

COPA LIBERTADORES

Fans lose out again in last-minute Libertadores final switch

09-11-2019 11:58 The one-off Copa Libertadores final already excluded loyal supporters from the chance of seeing their heroes in action in the biggest game of the year. This latest switch only rubs that fact even harder.

by Dan Edwards

Copa Sudamericana

Colón dare to dream as they prepare for historic Copa Sudamericana final

08-11-2019 11:16 Santa Fe side has arrived in Paraguayan capital, where they hope to make history against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in the final of the Copa Sudamericana.

COPA LIBERTADORES

CONMEBOL to review Santiago venue for Copa Libertadores final

04-11-2019 17:35 Region's football chiefs will meet Tuesday with the presidents of Libertadores finalists, River Plate and Flamengo, to review plans for this month's showpiece final following deadly protests in the Chilean capital.

COPA LIBERTADORES

Copa Libertadores final once more troubles South America

31-10-2019 17:02 One year on, South American football faces a familiar question: Where will the final of Copa Libertadores be played?

Football

CONMEBOL picks Maracanã for 2020 Copa Libertadores final

18-10-2019 08:17 Governing body also says the 2020 final of the Copa Sudamericana will be played at the Mario Kempes stadium in Córdoba.

FIFA CORRUPTION SCANDAL

FIFA bans Uruguayan former vice-president for life for taking bribes

02-10-2019 13:42 FIFA says its ethics committee found Eugenio Figueredo guilty of taking bribes in 2004 and 2015 linked to commercial deals for South American competitions.

FOOTBALL

Problems mount for Messi as injury woes adds to ban

06-08-2019 10:00 Messi banned for three months after CONMEBOL 'corruption' outburst, as star's new season in Spain begins with a cloud hanging over it.

FOOTBALL

CONMEBOL strips 'Chiqui' Tapia from seat on FIFA council

23-07-2019 17:20 Region's governing body strips AFA chief of FIFA responsibilities, after stinging criticism in wake of Copa América disappointment.

Copa América

Brazil to unroll large security operation for Copa America

11-06-2019 13:59 Brazil will deploy increased security measures as it braces for the start of the Copa América on Friday. Argentine referee Néstor Pitana is chosen to officiate the inaugural match between the hosts and Bolivia.