L. American countries hurt by FIFA high altitude ban

The world’s governing body for soccer- FIFA- announced that international matches may not be played in locations whose altitudes are located 8200 feet above sea level. The measure has hit several Latin American countries the hardest; international games may not be played in Quito, Ecuador, Bogota, Colombia, and La Paz, Bolivia.

Soccer officials in Bolivia deemed the measure as “against the right to ‘play where one lives’”, while Peruvian commentators claimed that FIFA caved in to demands by Brazil and Argentina. Bolivian President Evo Morales has even called for an emergency Cabinet meeting to figure out what to do. Nonetheless, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that playing at such a high altitude “is not healthy or fair.”

Interestingly enough, Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca (located about 7350 feet above sea level) was saved from FIFA’s decision.

Image- fussballtempel.net (Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia)

Sources (English)- ESPN Soccernet, Radio Australia Sports, BBC News, Stuff.co.nz, Wikipedia, Soccer by Ives

Source (Spanish)- El Tiempo