Colombia

Latin American pay-TV sports network PSN is to broadcast more than 100 matches from two of the region’s soccer tournaments – the Copa Mercosur and the Copa Merconorte.

South American Football Confederation (CSF) president Nicolas Leoz, whose organisation staged the Copa America at only six days' notice, says his dream is for every country in the Americas to take part in the future.

Television distributor Venevision International has been chosen by satellite broadcaster DirecTV to sub-license the rights to the 2002 soccer World Cup in a number of Latin American nations.

South American Football (CSF) president Nicolas Leoz guaranteed that the Copa America would go ahead in Colombia next month as planned despite the kidnapping of a leading local official and threats against the Argentina team.

South America's top international soccer tournament, the Copa America, due to be held in Colombia next month, was put on hold until a kidnapped senior Colombian soccer official is freed, a Colombian spokesman said.

FIFA does not plan to intervene over next month's Copa America, world soccer's oldest tournament, which has been put on hold after the kidnapping of a senior Colombian official.

Guerrillas in Colombia have agreed to free a top soccer official they kidnapped three days ago, according to the victim’s daughter.

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) said it submitted on Thursday what it believes to be a winning bid to host next month's Copa America soccer tournament after South America's federations vetoed Colombia over concerns of kidnapping and violence.

South American football rights and marketing company Traffic is claiming that Brazil will replace Columbia as hosts of the troubled Copa America soccer tournament.

The Copa America will be held in Colombia but it will be postponed until next year following last week’s kidnap of a soccer official. The event was due to start on July 11.

South American soccer rights and marketing company Traffic says it will lose $10million from the postponement of the Copa America tournament, which will now be played next year.

Colombia is hoping to stage a new soccer tournament to fill the void left by the postponed Copa America.

Colombian Football Federation president Alvaro Fina said he would personally ask South America's top players to come to his troubled nation to take part in next year's Copa America.

Colombia is engaged in an intense counter offensive to reclaim the Copa America soccer tournament for this month and avoid a major economic disaster.

The Copa America will take place in Colombia this month as originally planned, reversing a decision to postpone the tournament due to violence in the Andean country, the organisers said on Thursday.

Brazilian media giant Traffic was a key player in Thursday’s decision to go ahead with the Copa America, according to reports.