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| Copa América Set to Begin Under a Cloud of Corruption Allegations | Copa América Set to Begin Under a Cloud of Corruption Allegations |
| (7 months later) | |
| SANTIAGO, Chile — Just outside the gates to the field where Chile’s national men’s soccer team prepared for Thursday’s opening game of the Copa América, Cecilia Amaya, a second-grade teacher here, handed out small slips of paper bearing a list of demands. | SANTIAGO, Chile — Just outside the gates to the field where Chile’s national men’s soccer team prepared for Thursday’s opening game of the Copa América, Cecilia Amaya, a second-grade teacher here, handed out small slips of paper bearing a list of demands. |
| Teachers are on strike across Chile, and on Tuesday, Ms. Amaya joined a loud group of about three dozen protesters holding signs and blowing horns and whistles at the practice. But when Thursday comes and Chile kicks off against Ecuador in the opening match of the Copa, South America’s irregularly held and now scandal-plagued regional championship, the signs will come down and the television sets will click on. | Teachers are on strike across Chile, and on Tuesday, Ms. Amaya joined a loud group of about three dozen protesters holding signs and blowing horns and whistles at the practice. But when Thursday comes and Chile kicks off against Ecuador in the opening match of the Copa, South America’s irregularly held and now scandal-plagued regional championship, the signs will come down and the television sets will click on. |
| “We have no problems with the Copa América,” said Ms. Amaya, who wore the jersey of La Roja, as Chile’s team is known, and a festive red, white and blue hat. “We’re probably not going to protest during the games because we want to watch them. We want our team to win.” | “We have no problems with the Copa América,” said Ms. Amaya, who wore the jersey of La Roja, as Chile’s team is known, and a festive red, white and blue hat. “We’re probably not going to protest during the games because we want to watch them. We want our team to win.” |
| The teachers were drawn to the tournament for the publicity it generates, and fans are expected to watch the games in large numbers, but others are quietly staying away, perhaps to avoid the same spotlight the strikers craved. | The teachers were drawn to the tournament for the publicity it generates, and fans are expected to watch the games in large numbers, but others are quietly staying away, perhaps to avoid the same spotlight the strikers craved. |
| The Copa América claims to be the world’s oldest international soccer tournament. It was first held in 1916, predating the World Cup by 14 years. This year’s event is thought to be among the best in its history, with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar leading their teams. | The Copa América claims to be the world’s oldest international soccer tournament. It was first held in 1916, predating the World Cup by 14 years. This year’s event is thought to be among the best in its history, with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar leading their teams. |
| But a broad corruption scandal in soccer that has recently led to the arrests of both FIFA officials and businessmen has shed unflattering light on the tournament, especially since several of the charges involved bribery and kickback schemes linked directly to the Copa. At the same time, the Chilean government has been rocked by corruption allegations of its own, with President Michelle Bachelet recently dismissing five of her cabinet ministers and reassigning several others amid a series of scandals. | But a broad corruption scandal in soccer that has recently led to the arrests of both FIFA officials and businessmen has shed unflattering light on the tournament, especially since several of the charges involved bribery and kickback schemes linked directly to the Copa. At the same time, the Chilean government has been rocked by corruption allegations of its own, with President Michelle Bachelet recently dismissing five of her cabinet ministers and reassigning several others amid a series of scandals. |
| “There is not as much attention on the Copa as there should be because there are many problems with politics and strikes and the economy,” said Jorge Gálvez, a 34-year-old soccer fan who sells surveillance equipment in the Ñuñoa district of Santiago. “People are talking about other things for now. But once they begin playing, it will change.” | “There is not as much attention on the Copa as there should be because there are many problems with politics and strikes and the economy,” said Jorge Gálvez, a 34-year-old soccer fan who sells surveillance equipment in the Ñuñoa district of Santiago. “People are talking about other things for now. But once they begin playing, it will change.” |
| Many of the FIFA officials who were arrested in Zurich | |
| two weeks ago had planned to attend this tournament to watch the likes of Messi, Neymar, James Rodríguez of Colombia and Alexis Sánchez, Chile’s star forward. | |
| Many more officials were also thought to be coming, including Sepp Blatter, who recently announced that he would quit as FIFA’s president in the wake of the arrests; Juan Ángel Napout, the president of Conmebol, South America’s soccer federation; the Brazilian legend Pelé; and a group of observers from U.S. Soccer, which is scheduled to host a special 100th anniversary Copa América next year. | Many more officials were also thought to be coming, including Sepp Blatter, who recently announced that he would quit as FIFA’s president in the wake of the arrests; Juan Ángel Napout, the president of Conmebol, South America’s soccer federation; the Brazilian legend Pelé; and a group of observers from U.S. Soccer, which is scheduled to host a special 100th anniversary Copa América next year. |
| Now it has almost become a little game in Chile to guess who might dare show up. For some, like Pelé, it might be better to stay at home and avoid the toxicity radiating from the implicated officials and the event itself. As of this week, U.S. Soccer officials were still debating whether they would attend. For Conmebol executives, not attending could help avoid the wrath of the fans, or perhaps worse. | Now it has almost become a little game in Chile to guess who might dare show up. For some, like Pelé, it might be better to stay at home and avoid the toxicity radiating from the implicated officials and the event itself. As of this week, U.S. Soccer officials were still debating whether they would attend. For Conmebol executives, not attending could help avoid the wrath of the fans, or perhaps worse. |
| “They don’t know when the prosecutor will issue more arrest warrants,” said Juan Cristóbal Guarello, a sports commentator on ADN Radio and Channel 13, a national television station. “There is a political consequence — Napout inaugurating the cup and having 50,000 people insulting him.” | “They don’t know when the prosecutor will issue more arrest warrants,” said Juan Cristóbal Guarello, a sports commentator on ADN Radio and Channel 13, a national television station. “There is a political consequence — Napout inaugurating the cup and having 50,000 people insulting him.” |
| In some ways, it is a tantalizing notion: a competitive tournament with only players and fans — and nothing else to muddle the view. | In some ways, it is a tantalizing notion: a competitive tournament with only players and fans — and nothing else to muddle the view. |
| “I love good football,” Messi said Wednesday, “and I would pay to watch Brazil, Colombia and Chile.” | “I love good football,” Messi said Wednesday, “and I would pay to watch Brazil, Colombia and Chile.” |
| With thousands of fans traveling here from around South America to attend, many are expected to do just that. | With thousands of fans traveling here from around South America to attend, many are expected to do just that. |
| A spokesman for the sports ministry said Wednesday that Ms. Bachelet would not attend the opening ceremony. | A spokesman for the sports ministry said Wednesday that Ms. Bachelet would not attend the opening ceremony. |
| One man who is virtually obligated to attend is Sergio Jadue, the president of Chile’s soccer federation and a chief organizer of the tournament. Although not named in the indictments that were handed up May 27 in New York, Mr. Jadue and other officials have been on the defensive ever since the arrests in Zurich. | One man who is virtually obligated to attend is Sergio Jadue, the president of Chile’s soccer federation and a chief organizer of the tournament. Although not named in the indictments that were handed up May 27 in New York, Mr. Jadue and other officials have been on the defensive ever since the arrests in Zurich. |
| Of the 14 people indicted, eight were South Americans and two were former Conmebol presidents: Eugenio Figueredo, who once led the Uruguayan soccer federation, and Nicolás Leoz, who held the same position in Paraguay. | Of the 14 people indicted, eight were South Americans and two were former Conmebol presidents: Eugenio Figueredo, who once led the Uruguayan soccer federation, and Nicolás Leoz, who held the same position in Paraguay. |
| In the indictments, the Department of Justice said hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes were paid by an international marketing company to members of the 10 federations that form Conmebol. The money was used to secure the lucrative marketing and television rights to this and other Copa América tournaments, United States officials said. | In the indictments, the Department of Justice said hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes were paid by an international marketing company to members of the 10 federations that form Conmebol. The money was used to secure the lucrative marketing and television rights to this and other Copa América tournaments, United States officials said. |
| The charges also included details about how the bribes were said to have been used to secure the commercial rights to the 2016 Copa América. Now, because of the revelations, the staging of that event — in the United States or even at all — is in doubt. U.S. Soccer officials had been expected to name host cities this month, but shelved the announcement given the current climate. | The charges also included details about how the bribes were said to have been used to secure the commercial rights to the 2016 Copa América. Now, because of the revelations, the staging of that event — in the United States or even at all — is in doubt. U.S. Soccer officials had been expected to name host cities this month, but shelved the announcement given the current climate. |
| “That Copa América, in all likelihood, will not happen, given the current circumstances,” said Eduardo Santa Cruz, a professor at the University of Chile who wrote two books on soccer and mass culture. “All of these leaders will not even go. They won’t want to risk arrest.” | “That Copa América, in all likelihood, will not happen, given the current circumstances,” said Eduardo Santa Cruz, a professor at the University of Chile who wrote two books on soccer and mass culture. “All of these leaders will not even go. They won’t want to risk arrest.” |
| Mr. Jadue, the president of the Chilean federation, has denied he was part of the graft and produced receipts that he said proved his innocence. “If I were involved, I would not be speaking with you,” Mr. Jadue said in an interview on Radio Cooperativa on the day of the arrests. “I have nothing to hide.” | Mr. Jadue, the president of the Chilean federation, has denied he was part of the graft and produced receipts that he said proved his innocence. “If I were involved, I would not be speaking with you,” Mr. Jadue said in an interview on Radio Cooperativa on the day of the arrests. “I have nothing to hide.” |
| If Napout, the Paraguayan president of Conmebol, does stay away, it would be as shocking as if N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell skipped the Super Bowl. Yet Napout could choose to remain at Conmebol headquarters near Asunción, Paraguay — a state-within-a-state created to offer sanctuary from prosecution — for at least a few more days. In 1997, the Paraguayan government passed a law that granted virtual diplomatic immunity to the Conmebol compound, its property, documents and archives, similar to the privileges enjoyed by the embassy of a foreign nation. | If Napout, the Paraguayan president of Conmebol, does stay away, it would be as shocking as if N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell skipped the Super Bowl. Yet Napout could choose to remain at Conmebol headquarters near Asunción, Paraguay — a state-within-a-state created to offer sanctuary from prosecution — for at least a few more days. In 1997, the Paraguayan government passed a law that granted virtual diplomatic immunity to the Conmebol compound, its property, documents and archives, similar to the privileges enjoyed by the embassy of a foreign nation. |
| “It’s like a country that has one building and a hotel, but it received millions of dollars,” said Mr. Guarello, the Chilean sports commentator, calling it the Paraguayan Vatican. | “It’s like a country that has one building and a hotel, but it received millions of dollars,” said Mr. Guarello, the Chilean sports commentator, calling it the Paraguayan Vatican. |
| But that virtual diplomatic privilege may be dissolving. On May 29, two days after the arrests, the lower house of Paraguay’s congress voted overwhelmingly to repeal the law, and its fate now rests in the hands of the upper house. If the law is repealed, investigators could swoop in. | But that virtual diplomatic privilege may be dissolving. On May 29, two days after the arrests, the lower house of Paraguay’s congress voted overwhelmingly to repeal the law, and its fate now rests in the hands of the upper house. If the law is repealed, investigators could swoop in. |
| Despite the anguish over what is happening at the highest levels of soccer and the Chilean government, there is still great excitement about the tournament. Unlike the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where many were outraged at the huge sums spent to build new stadiums, many fans here said they were pleased that the government spent money to renovate the aging stadiums where their favorite club teams play. | Despite the anguish over what is happening at the highest levels of soccer and the Chilean government, there is still great excitement about the tournament. Unlike the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where many were outraged at the huge sums spent to build new stadiums, many fans here said they were pleased that the government spent money to renovate the aging stadiums where their favorite club teams play. |
| And the quality of soccer at the Copa América is expected to be high, with the field the strongest it has been in decades, and each nation fielding its best players — except for Uruguay’s Luis Suárez, who is still under suspension for biting an opponent at last year’s World Cup. | And the quality of soccer at the Copa América is expected to be high, with the field the strongest it has been in decades, and each nation fielding its best players — except for Uruguay’s Luis Suárez, who is still under suspension for biting an opponent at last year’s World Cup. |
| The misdeeds of the men in suits will not distract fans like Ms. Amaya or commentators like Mr. Guarello from following the event as closely as ever. | The misdeeds of the men in suits will not distract fans like Ms. Amaya or commentators like Mr. Guarello from following the event as closely as ever. |
| “People on the street think they are all crooks,” Mr. Guarello said, “but they want to watch the games.” | “People on the street think they are all crooks,” Mr. Guarello said, “but they want to watch the games.” |