Deadly Virus Forces Mexican Teams To Play Copa Lib Games In Colombia

Due to the effects of the deadly swine flu Conmebol have announced that the two Mexican teams remaining in the tournament will play their matches on Colombian soil.

Apr 30, 2009 4:58:27 PM

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Miguel Sabah y Luis Miguel Noriega- Mexico (Mexsport)
The South American Football Federation have decided that Chivas de Guadalajara and San Luis of Mexico will play their Copa Libertadores home games in the Colombian city of Bogota.

Nestor Benitez, a spokesperson of the Confederation, stated that both teams will face their yet to be confirmed opponents in the knockout phase of the tournament on May 6.
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Beforehand, the Confederation asked the president of the Mexican Federation, Justino Compean, details about measures that could be made to prevent the spread of the disease. But finally they came to the conclusion that it was best if both Mexican clubs would play their matches in South America, instead of in Mexico.

Earlier in the week there was talk that all Mexican teams could be excluded from the competition, because of the severity of the deadly disease. However, after much debate playing at a neutral ground was their final decision.

San Luis qualified for the round of 16 stage of the tournament on Tuesday, after beating Libertad 2-0 in Paraguay, while Chivas went through after holding Everton to a 1-1 draw in Chile on Wednesday.

Their rivals in the knockout phase will be known on Thursday, when the group stage of the tournament comes to an end.

Gregory Sica, Goal.com

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