[ad_1]
Despite some 40 days without hitting the head at Conmebol headquarters due to social isolation, the club’s director of club competitions, Fred Nantes, saw increased demand for information about the tournaments he organizes.
Read More: The president of the Italian Federation wants to regain the championships: “I don’t want to be the gravedigger of soccer”
– Everyone thinks she is Mother Dináh at the moment – she says, in an interview with GLOBO, detecting growing anxiety since the closure of the coronavirus.
Read More: Hero of Baraúnas remembers the elimination of Vasco 15 years ago: ‘Today I am Cícero Romário’
Even without concrete predictions, the leader designs scenarios. In the eight formatted so far, Libertadores ends on November 21, in Maracanã, as previously planned. Conmebol is seen with enough time not to give up its powers, but acknowledges that the pandemic brings, even in April, many doubts.
What is the current position of Conmebol in Libertadores and qualifiers?
We want to give peace to the clubs that we will continue to Libertadores and we will finish it. We have time for that. We simply won’t give a deadline now because the subject is complex. We have to wait for ten countries to work. We assess the situation daily. When the restrictions end, the next day we will start again. As for the qualifiers, there are not two groups of five teams. Today, it is planned to play in September, this is what FIFA has determined at the moment.
So it means that your confidence level is high.
Sure We need 10 dates to finish Libertadores. Saying it won’t happen is a rash. It is valid for South America, which needs eight dates. Even simpler.
The start date of the suspension of the competitions was until May 5. Will you extend the deadline?
We put on May 5 to give predictability to the clubs, because many wanted to give players vacations. It happened, especially in Brazil. Now, there is no sense in continuing to say that it will be in June, July. It will be when you can.
Are closed doors an accepted stage also in continental competitions?
We will start Liberators as we can. If countries say it will be closed, we will respect what each authority says. The important thing is that clubs can travel. If there are restrictions within the country, we will start as much as possible. What we want is to guarantee the implementation of protocols determined by the health authorities. Especially since it varies from country to country, depending on the level of the pandemic. Paraguay’s scenario is different from Brazil’s.
Would the Libertadores have priority over the South American one?
The tournaments would already be together until the quarterfinals. If necessary, we will follow this line of action. The national championships must also end. But there is no reason to give preference to Libertadores if the number of South American dates is less. When they release their trips, there is no need for more work than the other. It is doing what was already programmed.
Libertadores generated US $ 300 million for Conmebol last year. Do you already have a forecast of how much will be lost?
What impact could you suffer now? It is more for the clubs, which would play as directors. In terms of contracts, they are all in force. There is no renegotiation. Conmebol’s situation is a much stronger cash flow than in the past. This allows an advance of up to 60% of the value of the shares.
What about the Libertadores final in Maracanã?
The plan remains completely the same. There is no change in the end date. In all the scenarios we have today, Libertadores would end on November 21. Whether from June, July or August. You can finish on the established date. Anything right now is rushed because it has a long time until then. With the South American, the same happens with Córdoba, in Argentina.
Have you received the signal from FIFA about the Club World Cup?
We have a working group. The six confederations are represented. Today, the approved date for the World Cup is December 9. It is in force. The situation of all confederations will continue to be evaluated. The South American club would begin on December 13 or 14. We have to be careful not to install chaos theory. We still have time. The pandemic curve may respond differently for the worse and for the better. We have to be very calm.
What calendar scenarios already exist in Conmebol?
I have eight stages ready, right now. I can even create more. But in all of them there is a conclusion of Libertadores and Sul-Americana.
What is the main challenge for those who organize competitions with ten countries?
At that time, the question of displacement itself. Make sure that clubs can travel without closed borders. Local adaptations, whether the door is closed or not, are easier to manage. But ensuring teams can get to game locations is the biggest challenge.
Is there any kind of exchange with Uefa as both have recently gotten closer?
They were in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. We have an excellent relationship. We talk every week The situation in UEFA is more complicated because they would have to end in June due to their schedule. There is the problem of player contracts. In this sense, our calendar from January to December gives us a slightly more comfortable position at this time.
In Brazil, the clubs want to finish, in that order, state and Brasileirão, with 38 rounds. How to “defend” the Libertadores space?
Each one can make their priority as they see fit. For Conmebol, it is ending Libertadores and Sul-Americana. If people have other priorities or see differently, what can I do? Each will defend their organization. It is absolutely normal. What is most important to you?
It depends on whether I am a small or large club.
In terms of hierarchy of competence …
Given the hierarchy, can you guarantee that Conmebol’s will prevail?
It is not the will of Conmebol. I do not want to enter this dispute because it does not exist. Each organization wants to make its own tournament and Conmebol will finish Libertadores and Sul-Americana. If we have to enter December, early January, we will. I just don’t see the need for that right now.
What is your reading on the sentiment of the leaders you speak to?
It is a climate of apprehension due to uncertainty. No one can predict when it will return. I am sure and the security that we will finish. We are aware of the situation and the clubs, throughout the football industry. It is our point of attention. We want to help the industry. On the finish, we are sure that we will achieve it.
Does Conmebol speak to governments to address the health problem?
This does not depend on us. It is with each country. We speak with public authorities to find out the situation of each person, but not to determine the protocol. This depends on each Ministry of Health. Who is Conmebol to interfere in this?
South American football has a specific way of cheering, a unique climate, and Conmebol tries to value that. Do you think this heat will continue when the competitions resume?
I think when I come back, with an audience, it will be stronger than ever. Everyone expects football to return.
