Demonstrations in the city of Santiago, Chile, over increased Metro fares, increased cost of living and inequality have led CONMEBOL, the adminstrators of South American football, to move the final of the Copa Libertadores on November 23rd (today) 2019 the Estadio Monumental Lima in Peru (as if you didn't know that). Below.
It is the 60th Final, this weekend between Brazil's Flamengo
and Argentina's River Plate.
River Plate (below) was formed in 1901 by a group of British immigrants and have been the top club nationally and also one of the best on the continent. Dock workers, mainly immigrants from Europe, on the river estuary, noted the name on the imported crates which read the destination, River Plate and rather than use Rio de la Plate, they chose the English version for their "club name".
Flamengo (above) have only been to the final once and won it in 1981. River Plate have been 6 times, won 4, the last, last year!
Flamengo, originally formed as a rowing club, they were called Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. Like most clubs they had a number of sports under their wing and have developed these for the locals since 1895.
Knowing the fun and games that VAR has provided this afternoon (and previously) the South Americans are making sure they cover all bases; The ref is Roberto Tobar from Chile and he is supported by 2 assistant referees who might be called linesmen (Chile), a 4th official, 1 VAR expert and his 3 assistants from Colombia, Peru and Uruguay. Now that Hepworth United men are in a higher division they have to have "linos" and a ref of course. It costs the club £60 a game. I wonder how much the Libertadores treasurer forks out?
How important is this cup competition? Well, there is a flag planted on the MOON belonging to Independiente de Avellenada from Buenos Aires, seven times Copa winners and last holders in 1984.
As soon as the crew for Apollo 11 was named, the club's press officer, Hector Rodriguez, proposed making Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins members of the football club. I'm not sure that they had any idea what this was all about??!! But it happened.
Membership cards revealed that Armstrong was number 80,400 and various memorabilia were sent to the astronauts. Armstrong wrote back thanking the club in May 1969, two months before they set foot on the moon.
On July 20th 1969, Armstrong took his big step and it was not known that he had included the club pennant in the "lunar" ceremony until the astronauts visited Buenos Aires in November on a World tour. It was revealed that they had planted the flag!
When Armstrong died on August 25th 2012, CAI held a minute's silence before their game against Arsenal de Sarandi.
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