In what should be the last America Cup of Marta’s career, 39, the Brazilian team and other South American teams deal with what they classify as “a precarious and discouraging structure” offered by Conmebol (South American Football Confederation). The scenario led the entity, after criticism, to partially review its Women’s Tournament Operating Protocol in the Ecuador.
The main focus of the complaints is the choice of Gonzalo Poza Ripalda Stadium in Quito to house nine of the ten B -matches. The lawn, punished by excess games, led Conmebol to adopt a measure that generated even more discomfort. In the first two rounds, all teams that worked at the Auas House were forced to warm inside the locker room, in confined spaces and with improvised divisions to meet two delegations at the same time.
“I had not played a championship here in South America for a long time. We were saddened by these situations. They charge athletes’ performance and a high level of work, but we also have to charge a high level of organization. We have the right to charge the organization,” said Marta.
Three times champion of the competition, of which Brazil is the biggest winner, with eight trophies, the player of Orlando Pride also mentioned that the space was muffled, aggravating the discomfort caused by Quito’s altitude. “I didn’t have enough space for two teams.”
Although he won his first two commitments in the competition – Contract Venezuela (2-0) and Bolivia (6-0) – the team led by Arthur Elias was harmed by the situation. In the first round, the coaching staff failed to evaluate striker Kerolin, who had felt muscle discomfort on the eve of the match. Because of the prohibition of warming on the lawn, she ended up being out of the game.
Following, against Bolivia, there was a principle of confusion between players of the two teams during warming. The delegations divided a room that, according to reports heard by the Sheetit was about 15 m², smell of fresh paint and only two bathrooms.
“We, within the sport, have to join, not being against each other. Because what Conmebol is doing is ridiculous,” said striker Ary Borges.
Arthur Elias echoed the dissatisfaction of his athletes. “We should not have to charge that football responsible do their work,” he said.
After the repercussion of the criticism, the entity announced an adjustment in its protocol. From the third round, all the players will have 15 minutes to warm on the lawn before the matches.
The change seeks to minimize the most obvious problem, but does not solve other issues raised by the players. In her outburst, published on social networks, Kerolin quoted the organization of the female Euro, played simultaneously to the Copa America, as an example of what she expected to find.
“The difference in structure, audience and investment is surreal. It is discouraging. I didn’t want to come here to talk about it, but the structure would be the least for us,” wrote the athlete.
On Sunday (13), the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) highlighted some important brands of the first phase of the competition held in Switzerland. According to the entity, almost half a million fans were in the stadiums, and 22 of the 24 matches had sold out.
The duel between Germany and Denmark, in Basel, received 34,165 fans, the largest audience in a group stage game without involvement of the host country-and also the record of spectators for a women’s soccer match in Switzerland.
At Copa America, Conmebol has not announced the number of fans present in each of the matches. In the Brazilian team games, even with Marta on the field and tickets starting at US $ 3 (R $ 16.76), the public has no 300 people.
In addition to attracting more public, Europe has increased its transfers to the teams. In this edition, the organization will distribute € 41 million (R $ 266 million) in awards, an increase of 156% over the previous edition, in 2022. The champion of edition 2025 could accumulate gains of up to € 5.1 million (R $ 32.4 million).
In South America, the awards did not change over the previous edition, held in 2022. This year’s champion will pocket US $ 1.5 million (R $ 8.3 million), and the vice will take US $ 500,000 (R $ 2.79 million).
UEFA also invested in technology and put VAR (video referee) and automatic impediment to all euro matches. At Copa America, the video will only take action from the knockout.
“I think we deserved it better,” summarized Kerolin.
Brazil returns to the field next Tuesday (22) to face Paraguay at 21h (Brasilia).
