Latin America

UEFA chief Lennart Johansson launched an astonishing attack on FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday in the continuing fallout from the collapse of FIFA's marketing partner ISMM/ISL.

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.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter faces the toughest fight of his career this week when delegates from around 200 national associations meet in Buenos Aires for FIFA's Extraordinary Congress.

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.

The best rugby players from the northern and southern hemispheres will play each other in an annual grudge match starting next year, the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced on Thursday.

The NFL is planning a pre-season game in Mexico on August 27 when the Dallas Cowboys will meet the Oakland Raiders.

Korean FA president and FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon, a potential successor to FIFA president Sepp Blatter, has contradicted his superior ahead of a crucial FIFA executive meeting in Buenos Aires today.

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