Brazil gamers, together with six-time FIFA Participant of the Yr Marta, have criticised CONMEBOL and the organisers of the Girls’s Copa América in Ecuador for requiring groups to warm-up in confined indoor areas moderately than on the pitch.
Photographs circulated on social media, earlier than Brazil’s dominant victory over Bolivia of their second Group B match on Tuesday, confirmed gamers from each groups warming up side-by-side in a confined space on the Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium.
In response to the event laws, the measure was applied to stop injury to the pitch, which hosts two matches in a day through the group stage.
Marta, who returned from worldwide retirement to take part within the continental event, voiced her frustration over the state of affairs.
“It has been a very long time since I performed in a event right here in South America, and we have been saddened by these circumstances,” the 39-year-old striker advised Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte.
“Athletes are anticipated to carry out properly and work arduous, however we additionally need to demand a excessive degree of organisation.
“There wasn’t sufficient house for each groups, however each wished to arrange. I actually do not perceive why we will not heat up on the pitch.
“It is a drawback for us as a result of it is very popular inside, on high of the altitude. We hope that CONMEBOL modifications some issues and improves the state of affairs.”
Coach Arthur Elias echoed Marta’s issues, emphasizing that the situations pose dangers to gamers.
“We should not need to demand that these answerable for soccer do their job, simply because the gamers do on the pitch and I do as a coach,” he stated.
“The difficulty of warm-ups worries me quite a bit. That is essential for the gamers’ well being and for the match, as a result of when each groups do not heat up on the pitch, they take longer to get going.”
Midfielder Ary Borges directed criticism at CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez, highlighting the disparity between males’s and ladies’s tournaments.
“Even newbie matches are higher organised than what we have now right here. Ask Alejandro if he may warm-up in an area measuring 5 or 10 metres and smelling of paint,” she stated.
“I believe we had an instance of this with the Males’s Copa América, with its big infrastructure. Why is the ladies’s event having to take care of this type of factor?
“That is one thing he wants to deal with, as president. I believe we deserve higher.”
CONMEBOL didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Reuters.
