Mexico Breaks Up With the CONMEBOL

With the large conundrum of the Chivas and San Luis games in the Copa Libertadores because of safety concerns in Mexico, the FMF has finally taken initiative and finally stuck up for Mexico. South American teams refused to play in Mexico to further carry out the games in the Copa Libertadores, and they were not making it easier for the Mexican teams to find a solution. Now, no longer will Mexican teams participate in the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, or the Copa America.

While at first it may seem like a loss to the Mexican public, it’s a loss to the CONMEBOL and it all stems from them treating Mexican teams like second class citizens.

It started when at 2:23PM the FMF and CONMEBOL had reached an agreement over the Copa Libertadores games. Only a little while later at 4:56PM the CONMEBOL sent out a press release with their own agreed upon terms, which the FMF had not seen. This pissed off Compean and Decio De Maria who held a second press conference for the day and effectively let it be known that besides withdrawing from the Copa Liberatores 2009 competition, they would be withdrawing from subsequent CONMEBOL competitions as well.

While Chivas was up to face Sao Paulo, and San Luis Montevido of Uruguay, both clubs had come to the conclusion that they would play at home(with necessary precautions due to the H1N1 flu), or they would drop out. The second solution was what many foreign managers had been calling for.

Finally, the FMF has stood up and protected its rights. While Mexico might be guests, they also bring new competitiveness to the competition where Brazil and Argentina tend to dominate. Not only do Mexico challenge at the national team level(Copa America 2007?), but they also bring that level to the club tournaments. Mexican teams regular feature past the group stages, and have also managed to win the tournament with Pachuca having been crowned Champions of the Sudamericana in 2006.

“Mexico is more than what happens in the southern Hemisphere,” said Compean.

With this we’re positioning ourselves, and winning our space. We want to compete with equal conditions. We want fair play on and off the pitch.”

While the door has been left open to improve relations once again, it is ultimately up to the CONMEBOL to try and improve them. After all, in this relationship it seems that they get the worse end of the deal in the long run. Mexican participation brings in high revenue that only their very top teams manage to produce, and they will certainly be hurting with the absence.

For once, the FMF has stuck up for its rights. Few times do I seem to agree with their decisions, but this is one that I wholeheartedly support. While Chivas and San Luis may end up with what seems a bad end of the deal(San Luis can’t make the Liguilla, and Chivas have the odds working against them) someone had to feel the consequences. When CONMEBOL realizes the talent they have lost they will most surely come begging back.

Ultimately “The ball is on their pitch now.”