Coronavirus

South American football takes heat for Sinovac vaccine deal

South American football confederation Conmebol announced on Tuesday that it will receive a donation of 50,000 coronavirus vaccines from Chinese lab Sinovac in the coming weeks, which it will use to immunize national and club footballers
Brazilian side Grêmio had a game moved from Ecuador to Paraguay due to Covid restrictions. Photo: Lucas Uebel/GFBPA

South American football confederation Conmebol announced on Tuesday that it will receive a donation of 50,000 coronavirus vaccines from Chinese lab Sinovac in the coming weeks, which it will use to immunize national and club footballers. 

The organization said Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou was crucial in the negotiations.

The donation sparked criticism on social media. Firstly, because Conmebol is headquartered in Paraguay, a country which has struggled to roll out vaccines amid a coronavirus collapse

Regardless, Conmebol president Alejandro Domínguez called the donation the “best piece of news that the South American football family could receive.” He has been constantly criticized for not considering the suspension of major football tournaments, even at a time when the Brazilian variant has spread across the continent and sparked outbreaks within clubs.  

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