Brazil has named Rio de Janeiro and three other cities as the host venues for the upcoming Copa America football tournament even as a Supreme Court judge of the country asked President Jair Bolsonaro to explain his surprise decision.
The demand by Justice Ricardo Lewandowski came in response to a petition filed by the opposition Workers’ Party, which objected against hosting the prestigious tournament in the current health scenario in Brazil.
Earlier, Brazil President Bolsonaro had said that his government had agreed to stage the tournament from June 13 to July 10, after planned host Argentina pulled out at last minute due to a worsening Covid-19 situation.
Later, Brazil’s capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Cuiaba and Goiania were confirmed as host cities by Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).
“We have chosen the hosts in agreement, obviously, with the governors,” Bolsonaro said.
“So everything suggests… that Brazil will host the Copa America,” he added.
Significantly, Brazil is witnessing a high surge in cases as more than 450,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the country.
It has reported the continent’s highest case numbers and deaths. It also ranks second highest in the world for both daily reported cases and deaths at present.