The fallout from the FIFA scandal has reached much farther than Sepp Blatter’s office.
As many have speculated for months, there’s a real possibility the Copa America Centenario could be moved from the United States to South America thanks to corrupt dealings involved with the event. Ives Galarcep of Goal.com reports that officials have not yet made a determination on where the event will be played, but estimates the chance of it being moved is “50-50.”
Galarcep reports that U.S. Soccer and CONMEBOL were hoping to come to a decision by September 1, but that deadline has long since gone and the sides remain at odds over transparency regarding funds involved with the event.
Traffic Sports had been in charge of the tournament’s commercial rights. When the FIFA indictments were handed down, most of the officials involved were either Traffic Sports executives - such as company president Aaron Davidson - or those who made deals with the company regarding the 2016 tournament - most notably, Uruguayan FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo. The bribes and dealings totaled upwards of $150 million.
With the tournament dealings turned upside down, the two parties are left in an awkward position to save the current situation. Galarcep’s report states both parties wish to keep the tournament where it is, but are struggling to hash out assurances that the books will be kept transparent.
The tournament has become one of the most popular sporting events in the world. A BBC report estimates that a cumulative total of 5 billion people consumed the 2011 tournament, and that the 2007 competition netted Traffic Sports a $29 million profit.