Colombia have been reinstated as host nation for the Copa America but the event has been postponed until early next year. The prestigious competition was taken away from the South American nation after the Colombian Football Federation vice-president Hernan Mejia Campuzano was kidnapped on a rural highway at the start of the week. This latest revelation combined with a recent spate of bombings in major citites around the country alarmed officials to the point where they agreed the event would have to be taken away from Colombia because of security fears.
Campuzano was released shortly after the decision to take the event from Colombia the same day and flew to Buenos Aires to support Colombia's bid to be reinstated. He and his fellow officials are delighted with the news that Colombia has won its bid to host the Copa America and is hopeful that there will be no further trouble between now and next January when it is believed the event will take place.
"This is a victory for good over evil," said Colombia's football president Alvaro Fina. "If we had lost the Copa, we would have given a passport to terrorism. We cannot allow violence to beat people who want to work. I'm very happy because we had almost lost the competition and now we have got it back. Nobody can guarantee anything. Let's hope that nothing happens between now and January."
Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico had emerged as possible replacement hosts for the tournament which had been due to start on July 11 with the final on July 29 but because it would be almost impossible to organise such an event inside ten days, it was decided to postpone the Copa instead.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
