JAKARTA - Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday rejected two of three lawsuits preventing the Copa America soccer tournament from being held in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 10-nation South American soccer tournament kick-off Sunday at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia amid criticism of organizers rushing to move the tournament away from previous hosts Colombia and Argentina.
The Supreme Court is expected to reject a third lawsuit to allow the tournament to continue in Brazil.
FALTA POUCO E estamos ansiosos para ver a rollerball bola nas sedes da CONMEBOL #CopaAmérica ! E voc? #VibraOContinente YA FALTA MENOS ¡Y estamos ansiosos por ver Rodar la pelota ️ en las sedes de la CONMEBOL #CopaAmérica 2021! Y t? #VibraElContinente pic.twitter.com/dBBsOAhOBm
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) June 10, 2021
Chief Justice Carmen Lucia stated in her ruling that the Supreme Court still requires authorities to adopt the health protocols needed to prevent the transmission of the virus that has claimed nearly half a million Brazilians.
Last week, the United States Football Confederation abruptly moved the tournament after Colombia due to a wave of civil protests and Argentina withdrew following a spike in COVID-19 infections.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who ignored the severity of COVID-19 and refused to implement a lockdown, supported the decision to move the Copa America to Brazil.
But public health experts and the football community have questioned the wisdom of hosting the tournament amid the raging pandemic.
The lawsuit was filed by opposition parties and the national metal industry trade union.
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